How to Steer Clear of Drunk Drivers

The holiday time is a season for celebration and get-togethers with people you might not see very often. That can mean a lot of time on the road with people who are coming back from parties of their own. Sensible drivers would never drink and drive but sensible drivers are rarely the ones you’ll need to watch out for. To protect yourself and your family from the dangers of drunk drivers here are some tips that can help.

Tell-Tale Signs

First of all, it’s important to be able to spot a driver who might be under the influence of alcohol or drugs. These are some common signs.

Erratic driving. Quick deceleration or acceleration is a sure sign, as is tailgating or weaving across their lane or across the road. A poor response time caused by alcohol could also result in braking without cause or nearly striking an object, other vehicle, or curb. They may also signal in a way that’s inconsistent with how they are driving, or turn suddenly and without warning.

Poor responses. A drunk driver will often have a poor response time, slowing down too late so that they nearly hit another or cross into an intersection. Alternatively, they could be slow to start once the light goes green. They may also react to another vehicle in a delayed manner – refusing to get out of the way or speed up when going too slow.

Disregard for the rules of the road. A drunk driver can also exhibit a complete obliviousness to normal traffic rules. This can include driving on the wrong side of the road, straddling the center lane, and driving without proper safety precautions – such as no headlights at night.

What to Do

Now that you know how to spot a drunk driver the most important thing to remember when dealing with them is to keep a safe distance. They’re not going to be able to react to you so you’ll need to give yourself the time and the space to react to them. If possible, take a note of the car’s license plate and description and contact the police to report alleged drunk driving. You may be safe from their driving but that doesn’t mean they couldn’t hurt others. They should be off the road.

Drunk drivers are a serious problem and they are often more plentiful around the holidays so be sure to take care and you should be able to avoid any problems. That said, drunk drivers can come out of nowhere and if you’re hit or injured you should seek compensation for your pain. Call Conte & Associates at 1-877-614-0008. Based in Vaughan and Whitby, Conte & Associates works with clients in Whitby/Oshawa, and in the following cities in Ontario: Oshawa, Ajax, Pickering, Clarington, Newcastle, Courtice, Bowmanville, Newcastle, Port Perry, Belleville, and Peterborough.

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