Tips to Identify Drunk Drivers

Whenever I see a bad driver on the road: swerving in their lane, constantly changing speeds, or tailgating I automatically comment "what are they drunk?!". I say this, of coarse, as a joke, but what if they are truly intoxicated and what other signs are there that we don't even recognize as intoxicated driving?

Here are some helpful tips to identifying and dealing with drunk drivers...

Obvious signs of an intoxicated driver 1. Straddling the center lane marker - Drunk drivers will focus on the lane divider and use it as a guide to prevent swerving. Remaining near the center divider is a good clue that a driver is intoxicated.

2. Nearly hitting objects or passing at unsafe distances - Due to their blurry vision and slow reaction time drunk drivers have collisions or near-collisions with parked cars. telephone poles or mail boxes.

3. Swerving from side to side - Drunk drivers find their cars drifting as they drive due to their delayed reaction time and blurred vision - when they find themselves moving towards a side they will over correct to make it back into the center of the lane. If an individual is showing this type of behavior they are either driving under the influence or suffering fatigue and should not be driving.

4. Driving on the incorrect side of the street, on the shoulder or not staying within the lane - A driver with this type of behavior is nearly a sure sign of drug abuse, intoxication or fatigue and is not safe to be around.

Not as obvious signs of intoxication

5. Making wide turns - while drunk drivers overdue basic tasks because they cannot judge distances.

6. Driving at a very slow speed- 10+mph under the speed limit - When a driver knows he should not be operating a vehicle he many have a tendency to be extra cautious in an attempt to avoid detection- if a driver is driving more than 10 mph under the speed limit you should pay close attention to other signs of intoxication.

7. Tailgating another vehicle - Drunk drivers may tailgate because they are using the other car as a guide to navigate the roads and prevent swerving. The drivers reaction time, however, is considerably delayed and can result in a rear-end collision.

8. Erratic braking or Happy-Breaking - Happy Breaking is typically ignored as an obnoxious habit, but could be due to an intoxicated driver.

9. Driving without using headlights - This may actually be a drunk driver not sober enough to notice that he has difficulty seeing.

10. Inconsistent signaling- (ie. using a left signal when turning right)

11. Inappropriate stopping- (ie. Green lights, sidewalks with no pedestrians)

A lot of these signs often go unnoticed and we simply attribute them to an incompetent driver- mumble some disgruntled insults, go around them and continue on our journey. Rather than reporting unsafe drivers to police we simply ignore and avoid them. We try to get away from the driver- speeding and weaving to get as far ahead of them as possible. In reality, we need to stay behind the suspect, pay close attention to avoid any collision they may cause and report them immediately to police so they may get the driver off the roads.