People driving under the influence, unfortunately, cause a ton of accidents every year. If you’re wanting to learn how to avoid drunk drivers on the road, it’s important to know what to look out for. Know when to be more aware and when drunk drivers are more likely to be out. Look for indications of drunk driving in the way people handle their vehicles. Always keep a safe following distance. And finally, be extra cautious at intersections. Hopefully, you’ll be able to notice if there is a drunk driver near you and avoid them on the road while calling the police to get them help.
How to Avoid Drunk Drivers on the Road: Get Home Safely
Know When To Be More Aware
If you want to avoid drunk drivers, there are times of the day that are more dangerous than others. Expect most drunk drivers to be out and about late at night, especially on the weekends. If you have to be driving in the middle of the night, keep a close eye out for erratic driving. In addition, drunk drivers can be more prevalent anytime around the holidays.
Look for Signs
Another way to avoid drunk drivers is to look for erratic driving. Drunk drivers will often swerve or drift over the middle line. In addition, they might have trouble with their headlights. If you see somebody that seems to be swerving wildly or stopping and starting, there’s a chance that they could be intoxicated. Tailgating can also be a signal that somebody is driving drunk. Or if they suddenly speed up or slow down for no reason. All of these behaviors could be signs that a driver near you is under the influence.
Maintain Safe Following Distance
One important tip to avoid drunk drivers is to always use safe following distance. An intoxicated driver might panic and swerve if you drive too close to them. Staying well behind the car in front of you also gives you plenty of time to stop if they make an erratic move or slam on the breaks. Even when parked at a light, you should keep plenty of space between you and the car in front of you. If a drunk driver rear-ends you you’ll be less likely to then be pushed into the car in front of you.
Be Cautious at Intersections
Be extra cautious at intersections when trying to avoid drunk drivers. These are where a number of accidents happen each year. And unfortunately, these accidents can be deadly since traffic can collide head-on easily in an intersection. When you have a green light, you should always look both ways before entering the intersection. In addition, your foot should be hovering over the break if you’re going at a high rate of speed to be prepared in case you need to stop quickly.
There’s no excuse for anybody to drive while intoxicated. But unfortunately, it still happens. To avoid drunk drivers, try to be extra cautious at times when you know people are more likely to be drinking or traveling home from bars. Of course, somebody could drive drunk any time of day, but late at night and weekends are more likely. Avoid drunk drivers by watching closely for signs of erratic driving by cars around you. Always keep a safe following distance between you and the car in front of you. And finally, be extra cautious at intersections. Hopefully, you’ll be able to avoid all drunk drivers and get to your destination safely.