Drunk driving is a huge problem in the United States. On average, 28 people die every day from an auto accident involving an intoxicated driver. If you break it down, that’s more than one every hour. There’s no way to look at that statistic and not think things can be better. One of the best things you can do is call 911 if you think someone is driving under the influence. But, spotting a drunk driver isn’t always easy. However, here are a few things that can help you spot an impaired driver.
Erratic Acceleration
Loss of control over bodily motor functions is one of the most common symptoms of intoxication. You know right away when you see someone who’s too drunk on the street. They’re probably stumbling all over the place, almost crashing into people. That inconsistency doesn’t go away behind the wheel of a car. If someone accelerates or decelerates in a sharp way, there’s a chance they’re intoxicated.
Sometimes you see things that make you stop or slow down when driving. It might be a person standing dangerously close to the road, a truck on the shoulder, or even a pothole. For drunk drivers, the phenomenon is exaggerated to a dangerous degree. They will often slam on the brakes for something that wouldn’t make a sober person think twice to avoid.
Swerving or Drifting Between Lanes
Individuals sometimes need to walk a straight line when taking a sobriety test. Drunks can’t control their bodies well enough to perform this simple test. The same thing can be said for drunk drivers. Intoxicated people tend to swerve all over the road. If the drunk driver accidentally swipes your car, you could be faced with hefty repair fees. Luckily, most auto insurance policies will mitigate some of the financial burden of car repair. Compare auto insurance quotes to better protect yourself against potential accidents with inebriated drivers.
Unusually Slow Response Time
It’s also typical that people who are intoxicated won’t respond to stimuli in a normal way. This is often expressed in slow response times. For example, someone might take several seconds to start driving when a light turns green. Or even worse, they might fail to stop when a light turns yellow or red.
Incorrect Signaling
Your directional signals are there to let other drivers know your intentions. When used correctly, they make the roads safer for everyone. Drunk drivers regularly forget to use their blinker.
Near Collisions
Drunk drivers are much more likely to crash than sober ones. But they can also get lucky and just nearly miss disaster. For instance, a boozed driver might careen across traffic to catch a late highway exit; narrowly missing cars along the way. You should pull over and immediately report anyone driving unsafely.
Driving Excessively Slow
Boozy drivers can drive too fast or too slow. Either way, this behavior can be dangerous. If someone is driving at least 10 mph under the limit they may be under the influence.
Headlights off at Night
Your headlights are essential to driving safely at night. They let you see what’s down the road. But just as importantly, they help other drivers see you. People with their headlights off at night are clearly oblivious to their own lack of seeing the road. This is often an indication of intoxication.
Impaired driving is unfortunately a thing we need to deal with in our society. Consider these signs when assessing the aptness of another driver.
