Holiday Tips for Spotting Drunk Drivers on the Road From Ronemus & Vilensky

Although the holiday season brings about the best traditions, there is one holiday tradition that many families and drivers could live without: drunk driving. Unfortunately, the holiday season is one of the most popular time periods for drunk driving, and also one of the most dangerous times to be driving on the road. In fact, one recent study showed that drunk driving caused 40 percent of car accident fatalities on Thanksgiving, 37 percent of Christmas car accident fatalities, and 58 percent of New Year’s holiday car accident fatalities. 

Probably the most unnerving part about dealing with drunk drivers is knowing when to spot one on the road. Although it’s crucial to drive cautiously at all times, you can help protect yourself from drunk drivers this holiday season by looking out for some specific drunk driving behaviors. If you see another driver doing any of the following while driving, then it is very likely that you’re sharing the road with a drunk driver:

• Taking extremely wide turns.
• Driving on the wrong side of the road, or on the shoulder. 
• Braking erratically or stopping without cause or reason.
• Turning on signal lights and not merging into another lane.
• Turning on signal lights and merging into the opposite lane.
• Stopping inappropriately at places such as green lights or at crosswalks with no pedestrians.
• Driving inappropriately through stop signs or red lights.
• Swerving or driving well below posted speed limits. 
• Tailgating other cars too closely.
• Weaving, swerving, drifting or straddling the roadway center line.
• Driving on the wrong side of the road. 
• Turning abruptly or illegally.
• Driving with headlights off.
• Driving and almost striking objects or vehicles on the road. 

If you see a driver exhibiting any of these common drunk driving behaviors, it is important to not panic and to drive cautiously. If you are in the same lane or in close vicinity to a drunk driver, make sure that everyone in your call is buckled and drive defensively based on what the drunk driver is doing behind the wheel. If you find that a drunk driver’s actions are posing an immediate danger to you and other nearby drivers, have a passenger record the drunk driver’s license plate number and contact the police immediately.

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