Intoxicated drivers are among the largest safety hazards for motorists. Not only do they have little awareness of what’s going on around them, but they also no longer have the reaction time to avoid danger. As such, sober drivers must look out for these threats and understand when to keep their distance. Here’s how to identify a drunk driver on the road. We’ll cover what signs to look out for in the traffic around you.
Constant Tailgating
First, keep an eye out for drivers who have a pattern of tailgating the car in front of them. Driving too close to another vehicle shortens the amount of reaction time a person has. If they suddenly need to hit the brakes, they can get into an accident. Since drunk drivers have impaired vision, they’re more likely to drive too close to other vehicles. Therefore, they’re more likely to get into accidents. So, if there’s a car tailgating you, change lanes.
Swerving Across Lanes
You can also identify drunk drivers by how they swerve in and out of lanes. Being under the influence often limits the amount of patience a person has. This makes them unlikely to stay in one lane for very long—especially when confronted with traffic. When they suddenly change lanes, they can easily cross the path of your car before you even realize it. As such, you’ll want to keep an eye on them so that you don’t accidentally collide.
Inconsistent Signaling
Another way to identify a drunk driver on the road is to look for erratic turn signal use. Turn signals should only flash for turns or lane changes. Because of this, if you notice that someone’s signal frequently turns on and off with not much movement to follow, it might be best to keep your distance. You want to know that the driver is telling you clearly what they’re doing. But drunk drivers can’t do that.
The better you understand how to identify an intoxicated driver, the higher your chances are of passing them unscathed. However, we recommend that you learn how to file a lawsuit. This way, you’ll know what to do if you get into an accident with one of these individuals. Drunk drivers are threats to the entire community. In preparing yourself, you’re doing your part to protect your family from devastating injuries or worse.
