If you see a driver that you believe may be under the influence, keep your distance. Do not just continue driving normally around them. Give yourself more space and recognize that this driver is highly likely to make a mistake that causes an accident. The less time you spend near them on the road, the better.
But, how do you spot a drunk driver in the first place? It’s important to understand what types of driving mistakes they could make.
Common signs of impaired driving
To help you identify potentially impaired drivers, look for some of the following issues:
- They’re drifting in and out of the lane, perhaps driving onto the shoulder or into oncoming lanes.
- They are straddling the center line, with tires on both sides.
- They are weaving or zigzagging for no apparent reason.
- They make jerky and unexpected maneuvers, such as quickly braking or accelerating.
- They don’t respond the way you would expect at traffic signals, such as a drunk driver who remains stationary long after a light turns green.
- They forget to take basic safety steps, like turning on their headlights at night.
- They make abrupt and potentially illegal maneuvers, such as driving the wrong way on a one-way road.
- You watch them have a near miss where they almost get into an accident involving another vehicle, a street sign, a curb or anything else.
Once you identify someone who may be impaired, you certainly want to keep your distance to stay safe. Unfortunately, this driver could still cause an accident, and you may suffer injuries as a result. If you do, be sure you know how to seek financial compensation.
