Even if you are the soberest, safest driver in the United States, your safety on the road is still not guaranteed. Drunk and intoxicated drivers can appear out of the blue. They can be there in broad daylight, at late nights, during holidays, etc. Alcohol is a part of celebration in events like St. Patrick’s Day, New Year’s, Christmas, etc.
Nowadays, being a good driver is not enough. You have to learn defensive driving. Defensive driving is not simply following the rules; it is about tackling difficult situations on the road. For instance, dealing with a drunk driver acting recklessly. If you were involved in a drunk driving accident, hire an attorney today.
Signs of a drunk driver
- Swerving.
Swerving behavior is the easiest to spot. You can easily drive on a straight track when you are sober. However, when you are drunk, your focus and coordination are affected. The drunk person may not be able to concentrate and keep their vehicle straight on the road. Thus, they swerve from one lane to the other.
- Driving on the center line.
You and the cops are not the only ones aware that swerving is a sign of drunk driving. Many drinkers are fully aware of this fact, too. However, they still slip behind the wheel, knowing they will face trouble while driving. They try to overcompensate it by picking the safest spot on the road, the center line.
- Constant slowing down or braking.
A drunk driver can be easily seen accelerating and braking suddenly on the road. They even slow down their vehicle too early when they arrive at a red light. They drive much slower than the area’s speed limit. Drinkers are sometimes aware and try to play safe. They do not move their vehicle at a very high speed, no matter if the road is empty or full of traffic.
- Tailgating.
To hide their impaired ability, drunk drivers often stick to the vehicle in front of them and follow it. If you are on a clear highway and the car behind you is constantly too close to your bumper, it is a sign that the driver may be intoxicated.
- Major driving violations.
Drunk drivers may violate multiple traffic rules. An impaired driver may be seen operating his vehicle without the headlights in the night. They can go the wrong way in traffic, forget to use indicators at turns, fail to apply brakes at a stop sign, park near a no-parking board, and so on.
