Even if you understand how important it is to avoid drinking and driving, there are other people who don’t take nearly as much caution. And those are the drivers who have a better chance of causing an accident that results in the injury or death of innocent people.
The ability to spot drunk drivers positions you to take steps to protect yourself. While it’s easier said than done, especially with so much happening on the road, here are some signs that a person may be under the influence of alcohol:
- Swerving: Drunk drivers often find it difficult to stay in their lane. In addition to swerving, they may drift out of their lane of travel. This is often most noticeable on the highway, where the driver has to stay with the traffic lines over the course of several miles.
- Slow reaction time: For example, if someone doesn’t accelerate after a red light turns green, it could mean they’re under the influence. Furthermore, drunk drivers struggle to make quick decisions in emergency situations, thus putting everyone on the road at risk.
- Aggressive behavior: Any driver can become aggressive at any time, and this definitely holds true of those who are under the influence of alcohol.
- Driving extremely fast or slow: Some people throw caution to the wind when they’re under the influence and behind the wheel, thus leading to excessive speeding. Others realize that they shouldn’t be driving, so they take the slow and steady approach. Either way, it puts other drivers at risk.
- Ignoring the rules of the road: This includes everything from running stop signs and red lights, to neglecting to use turn signals, to improper lane changes.
Unfortunately, there’s no way to spot every drunk driver on the road, so you can’t protect yourself at all times.
Should one of these individuals cause a motor vehicle accident, pull to safety, if possible, and call 911 for help. You can then let the responding officer do their job, while you seek medical treatment.
Once your health is stabilized, revisit the accident, review your insurance policy and decide which steps you’ll take to hold the driver responsible for their negligence.
