Drunk drivers pose a hazard to people on the road, including innocent children and adults. As the holiday season marches on, the risk of drunk drivers increases with seasonal festivities. Some people don’t plan very well when they are going out to party. They might assume that they will be fine to drive home, but this isn’t usually the case.
Knowing the signs of a drunk driver might help you avoid being involved in a crash with that impaired driver. Here are some signs that you need to be aware of when you are driving:
Signs of drunk driving
Swerving between lanes and even off the road is one of the most common signs of an intoxicated driver. You might also notice the drunk driver is tailgating other vehicles, driving erratically, stopping suddenly or disobeying traffic signs and signals. A person who is intoxicated will usually not drive right at the speed limit. Instead, he or she will go to extremes by either driving too slow or too fast. Driving without lights on at night is another sign that someone is impaired.
Take action if you see a drunk driver
Never try to approach a drunk driver if you spot one on the road. A better course of action is to stay far enough from that vehicle to reduce the risk of being in an accident. Take note of the license plate, make, model and color of the vehicle. You can contact the police department in the area to report the suspected drunk driver. If you are by yourself in your vehicle, pull over in a safe location to make the report. Someone who is with you can do this if you have a passenger.
Impacts of drunk driving crashes
Someone is injured in a drunk driving crash every two minutes in this country. All of these injuries are senseless because they could have been prevented if the drivers had simply opted to stay sober before getting behind the wheel or had found other transportation options.
On top of the injuries, there is also the sobering — no ironic pun intended — possibility of death because of a drunk driving crash. Both injuries and death impact the family members of the victim, irreparably. Many people don’t realize how far reaching the effects of a drunk driving accident really are. The “fun” of “just a few drinks” is never worth the potential costs that will haunt you for the rest of your life.