As motorist in Knoxville, you may follow all of the traffic and safety regulations when sharing the road with other vehicles. Regardless of how cautious you are while driving, however, there is the ever present danger that you may become involved in a car accident caused by a drunk driver. By knowing how to identify the signs of an intoxicated motorist, you may be able to avoid becoming the victim of a serious automobile collision.
According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving, there are some definite driving behaviors that could alert you to an intoxicated or otherwise negligent motorist. These drivers may be found swerving in and out of traffic lanes and might even straddle the center line. You may also spot intoxicated motorists driving at night with their headlights off or following other vehicles too closely. Motorists who have been drinking often drive extremely slow, which in some cases, may be as low as 10 mph under the posted speed limit.
People who are drinking and driving experience a decreased or increased reaction time. They could either slam on their brakes in response to a traffic light, object in the road, pedestrian crosswalk or bad weather conditions, or they could fail to brake in time.
Drunk drivers put the lives of everyone on the road in danger. If you should happen to spot a motorist who is driving erratically, you may want to call the authorities. The few minutes it takes to report the driver may just save someone’s life.
This information is only intended to educate and should not be taken as legal advice.