5 Ways to Keep a Drunk Driver Off the Road

September 8, 2012 | Filed under: The List | Posted by: Cherrell Tarantino

Drunk drivers kill 30 people in the U.S. every single day. That scary statistic is even more frightening when you consider how many more people are injured, not to mention how much money is lost, all as a result of this completely preventable problem. As a driver, you can make a dent in the statistics by reporting suspected drunk drivers when possible. Most drivers own cell phones. You, or your passenger, can use a cell phone to report a suspected drunk driver to the police, as long it does not endanger your safety or the safety of others. What are the signs of an impaired driver, and what information do you need to make an effective complaint?

When a driver drinks, their reaction time is greatly reduced. This can make simple maneuvers like lane changes very dangerous. Intoxicated drivers are unable to accurately gauge their speed, and they are unable to make the critical decisions they need to be a safe driver. Some of the most obvious signs of intoxication include, swerving in and out of the lane, being unable to maintain a constant speed, excessive braking, and hugging the side of the road. Obviously, the signs of an impaired driver get worse depending on the intoxication level of the operator.
If you are in a bar or restaurant and you notice an intoxicated individual headed to their car, call the police immediately. Get as much information as you can, including a physical description of the car, and the license plate information so the police can identify the drunk driver. If you are already on the road and you suspect a driver is impaired, don’t follow too close. You can collect the license plate information, the make and model of the vehicle, and then call to report the suspected drunk driver. Your safety should always be the first consideration.
If you are able to safely report the incident, you absolutely should. Your actions could not only save the life of that driver, but they could also save the life of innocent motorists sharing the road.
Whatever you do, don’t confront an intoxicated person on the road. Distracting them puts everyone in more danger. You can call 911 or call your local highway patrol office. You are never expected to put yourself in harm’s way to police the roads of your city, but if you can provide information to the authorities in a safe manner, it is the right thing to do.
Drunk drivers count on getting away with their behavior, “just this once.” It is highly unlikely that a drunk driver is being caught on their first infraction. Most drunk drivers think that they are capable of operating their vehicle, and they are unaware of just how little alcohol can turn them into a danger on the road. As a member of a society tasked with looking out for each other, knowing the signs of an impaired driver, and being able to report them, empowers all drivers to take back control of our streets and highways.

Anthony Joseph is a freelance writer and researcher, and a contributing writer for www.accident-lawyer-new-york.net. Locating the perfect accident attorney doesn’t have to be difficult. They are available to help you start your online search for an accident attorney in New York.

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Posted by Cherrell Tarantino on September 8, 2012. Filed under The List. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry