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Signs of Drunk Driving

It’s difficult to know which motorists are causing you particular risk for injury at a given time on a Pennsylvania roadway. That’s because hidden dangers often lurk unseen. The driver next to you may look perfectly fine until he or she suddenly veers over into your lane, slamming into the side of your vehicle. Sometimes, you can spot signs that suggest a certain driver may be intoxicated or otherwise distracted behind the wheel. Safely distancing yourself from suspicious drivers is usually a good idea.

Drunk drivers are menaces to Pennsylvania roadways. A key to avoiding driving disasters is to learn how to recognize signs of drunk driving that suggest a specific driver might be dealing with intoxication. When a drunk driver is nearby, there may be little to nothing you can do to stay safe. Then again, staying alert and observing your surroundings might be a pivotal factor in avoiding a collision.

Driving in Pennsylvania can be challenging, especially during winter. If you’re the parent of an inexperienced teenage driver, you likely worry every time you hand your son or daughter the car keys and he or she heads out the door. Perhaps you provide instructions and reminders to keep eyes on the road and hands on the wheel at all times and to stay focused on the task at hand. Whether you’re the one driving or your child is, other motorists can place you at risk for injury.

Do you know a drunk driver when you see one? Some people are able to function at fairly high levels of agility and cognitive skill when intoxicated so it’s not always easy to tell if they’re drunk. However, while driving, if you keep a lookout for certain suspicious behaviors, it may help you avert an accident.

What are the Signs of Drunk Driving?

Driving Posture Suggesting Intoxication

If you’re driving along a Pennsylvania highway and you notice another driver sitting at the front edge of the driver’s seat, beware. Drunk drivers often assume this posture. They slide far up in their seat, tightly grip the steering wheel, and may even be squinting or acting like they’re trying to get as close as possible to their windshield.

This type of driving posture is a definite warning sign that the person behind the wheel might be dealing with intoxication. As in any potentially dangerous situation, it’s best if you try to distance yourself from a person exhibiting suspicious driving behaviors.

Random Acceleration

While it’s unlikely that you might maintain the exact same speed during a single road trip, it’s typical that your driving pattern will match the current traffic flow, meaning, if traffic slows down, you slow down or apply brakes as needed, if there is a traffic light or something occurs that causes the cars in front of you to stop.

Drunk drivers often apply their brakes or gas pedals randomly, without any consistency according to the traffic flow around them. Driving too slow is dangerous, and we all understand the dangers of speeding. If you notice a vehicle traveling at random speeds, it might be a sign of driver intoxication.

Impaired Depth Perception

A person who is operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol might have great difficulty navigating turns. If you witness a driver taking a turn far too widely or so tightly that he or she clips a curb, it is reason to suspect alcohol or drug-related impairment.

Other Signs of Drunk Driving

Drunk drivers often forget to turn their headlights on at night.

Additionally, we’re often asked, “Why do people tailgate?” The answer is, “They may be drinking and driving.” They might come dangerously close to parked cars or other vehicles, even to pedestrians. If a person is tailgating you, he or she might be an intoxicated driver.

Failing to stop at a red light or entering the wrong lane of traffic are also danger signs that a person behind the wheel might be acting under the influence of alcohol or drugs. This can cause red light accidents and head-on collisions.

What to do if You See a Drunk Driver in Pennsylvania

How you react to potential roadway danger depends on what’s going on around you at the time. If you’re in a lot of traffic, traveling at speeds of 55 miles per hour or more, you might not be able to react safely or swiftly enough to avoid a collision if a drunk driver veers into your lane or is coming up on your bumper from behind. However, if possible, it’s always a good idea to pull off the road and alert 911 dispatchers of the situation.

Many Pennsylvania accident victims seek financial recovery for their losses when the cause of the collision that resulted in their injuries was drunk driving. Court-awarded compensation has helped many accident victims pay medical bills and replace lost wages from time off work during recovery.

Contact an Easton motor vehicle injury attorney to learn more.

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