Drunk driving has plagued the nation with accidents, property damage, and even fatalities. While we cannot predict if we will find ourselves sharing the road with an impaired driver, we can take steps to avoid and report them on the road. The best way to prevent collisions with drunk drivers is to learn how to spot them, avoid them, and report them to authorities. If an intoxicated driver has injured you or a loved one, you can turn to the attorneys at Richard Schwartz & Associates. We will work tirelessly to defend your rights and ensure that you receive compensation for the injuries that you suffered due to someone else’s negligence.
Swerving or Weaving Between Lanes
One of the easiest signs to spot a drunk or impaired driver is by noticing when a car is swerving or unable to maintain its lane. Drunk drivers often lose control of their vehicle, and with their blurred vision, they quickly fail to stay in their lane. This erratic and dangerous behavior increases the risk of sideswiping other vehicles or even head-on collisions with oncoming traffic.
Driving Too Slowly or Stopping for No Reason
Drivers who are struggling to maintain a steady speed may indicate that the driver is under the influence. When intoxicated drivers drift in and out of clarity of mind, they may suddenly brake or accelerate suddenly as they cannot keep their foot on the pedal consistently.
Ignoring Traffic Signals and Signs
Difficulty comprehending road situations, disregarding traffic laws, and slower reflexes mean impaired drivers have difficulty following traffic signs and reacting appropriately behind the wheel. Drunk drivers may speed, fail to yield to the right of way traffic, or drive through red lights and stop signs.
Persistent Tailgating
Erratic actions like constant honking, blinking headlights, and abrupt lane changes often signal that a driver may be under the influence. Alcohol affects their judgment and depth perception, making it difficult to gauge safe following distances. At times, intoxicated drivers resort to aggressive tailgating to intimidate or push other vehicles, completely disregarding the dangerous nature of their actions.
Overly Wide or Narrow Turns
Substances that can cause someone to be impaired while behind the wheel can lead to sloppy and overly cautious turns. With impaired depth and distance perception, drunk drivers may take turns too narrowly bumping into curves or too widely and swerve into other lanes of traffic. These risky maneuvers can endanger pedestrians and other drivers on the road.
Staying Safe on the Road
Defensive driving is about ensuring that you are safe on the road and being vigilant of the other drivers around you. You should be extra cautious at night, around the holidays, or on the weekend for drivers who are driving red flags. While none of these red flags prove that a driver is intoxicated, reporting the behavior and keeping your distance is essential.
Injured in a Car Accident? Contact Richard Schwartz & Associates
Even the most careful and skilled drivers can find themselves involved in accidents. At Richard Schwartz & Associates, we understand the profound and lasting effects these incidents can have on victims and their families. If you or someone you care about has been harmed by an impaired driver, you deserve a dedicated legal team that prioritizes your needs and fights for your rights. One call to Richard Schwartz & Associates, and we can start helping you with compassionate and dedicated legal representation to get you the compensation you deserve. One call, that’s all.
