As a driver, safety is your No. 1 responsibility. By taking the right approach, you’re able to enhance your personal safety, as well as that of every other driver on the road.
If you have reason to believe you’ve spotted a drunk driver, keep your distance. Driving in close proximity to this person increases the risk of an accident.
The most common signs of driving while impaired include:
- Tailgating
- Quick deceleration and acceleration
- Driving the wrong way on a one-way street
- Drifting in and out of a traffic lane
- Striking or almost striking another vehicle or object
- Driving anywhere other than the road, such as a bicycle lane or sidewalk
- Driving at night without headlights
- Slow response to changing traffic signal, such as red to green
- Illegal turns
- Abrupt turns
As you keep your distance, make note of the vehicles color, make, model and license plate. You can then call 911 to report what you’re seeing. At that point, it’s up to police to respond to the area and take action as they see fit.
Even if you know how to spot a drunk driver, you could still be involved in an accident with one of them. For example, if a drunk driver fails to stop at a red light, they could strike your vehicle as you move through the intersection.
If you’re injured in a drunk driving accident, receive medical treatment, file an insurance claim and collect evidence. You may come to learn that you’re able to take many steps to obtain compensation from the negligent party.
