Driving is a daily task that people take for granted, but it can hurt someone or end their life in a second. Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for people of all ages, including infants.
As someone who wants to stay safe on the road, you need to not only be careful about how you handle your own vehicle but also proactive in how you monitor road conditions. Other drivers are often the most pressing threat on the road — especially drivers under the influence of drugs or alcohol. They cause a disproportionate amount of the fatal and injury-causing crashes in the United States every year.
You may be able to spot a drunk driver before they do something truly dangerous. Let’s look at a few things to watch for.
Watch out for warning signs of possible impairment
While it is true that some people who drive while drunk have enough experience doing so to avoid making obvious mistakes, many impaired drivers display common, tell-tale signs.
Some of the warning signs of impairment in another driver include:
- Weaving or swerving
- Tailgating
- Suddenly stopping without cause
- Going the wrong way on a road
- Driving off the road
- Crossing the center line
- Unpredictably speeding up or slowing down
- Not using turn signals or using them incorrectly
Although all of these behaviors could have alternative explanations, it’s often best to err on the side of caution.
What to do when you spot a potentially impaired driver
If you spot a driver who seems unsafe or possibly impaired, you may want to try changing your route. You could also consider pulling off the road to use your phone to alert authorities to a driver who could cause a crash.
If you do wind up being injured by someone under the influence, insurance claims and possibly a personal injury lawsuit may be necessary to recover the losses you suffer.