Impaired drivers are a risk to everyone who shares the road with them. The higher a person’s blood alcohol concentration, the greater the impacts to their driving abilities. Unfortunately, the lack of sound decision-making that comes with intoxication means that these individuals might think they are fine to drive when they aren’t.
On average, 29 people die because of crashes involving alcohol. This is tragic because each of these deaths is preventable. If the impaired driver didn’t get behind the wheel, there wouldn’t have been a tragic crash. All drivers should know the signs of drunk driving so they can try to avoid those drivers in an attempt to remain safe.
Common signs of drunk driving
There are several signs that indicate a driver might be impaired by alcohol or drugs. These include actions like suddenly stopping without a reason and swerving between lanes. A vehicle that suddenly decelerates or accelerates or almost hits items on the side of the road might be operated by an impaired driver. Making sudden turns, failing to comply with traffic signals, and tailgating are also signs that something is amiss. It is also possible that they will skip using signals or take action that is opposite of the signal they used. They might also straddle the center line.
Some impaired drivers might not turn on the headlights between dusk and dawn. Driving the wrong way in the traffic lanes is another possibility. These two actions are dangerous because they may mean that other drivers can’t react appropriately to the hazard they are facing.
Action plan when you spot a possible drunk driver
If you see a driver you think is impaired, don’t try to stop them. Stay back from them as much as possible. You can contact the police department when it is safe to do so or you can ask a passenger to do it for you. Provide as much information as you can about the vehicle so they can try to find it when they make it to the area.
Some drunk driving crashes lead to catastrophic injuries. If you are involved in one of these, you might opt to pursue a claim for compensation. This can help to defray the costs associated with it. The damages you claim can include money for missed wages, medical care and similar factors. Just be sure to file quickly since there are time limits for these cases.