In 2013, there were over 11,000 alcohol-related crashes in the state, causing thousands of injuries and 381 deaths, reports the Pennsylvania DUI Association. You can do your part to help keep our roads safer not only by refraining from driving while under the influence but also by reporting any drunk drivers you see on the road, to prevent a car crash before one happens.
How to Spot a Drunk Driver
A driver maneuvering slowly, erratically, or recklessly may be driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
- Makes full, exaggerated turns
- Makes abrupt movements
- Tailgates
- Swerves or weaves in and out of the lane or drives in the center of the road
- Has a near miss with a vehicle or object
- Brakes erratically or stops for no reason in a lane, at a green light, etc.
- Travels the wrong way on the road
- Drives with the headlights off
- Rides on the sidewalk, lawns, or other non-designated roadways
- Signals inconsistently with maneuvers, e.g., turns on the left blinker to move to the right lane
- Slow to start when the light turns green
- Is travelling less than ten miles below the posted speed limit
Reporting a Drunk Driver to the Authorities
Spotting a drunk driver is just cause to notify the police immediately. If you think you’ve spotted a drunk driver, you’ll want to take the following simple steps.
- Maneuver as far away as practicable from the driver. You do not want to put yourself in harm’s way.
- Pull over and call 9-1-1 and inform the dispatcher that you’ve spotted a drunk driver on the road.
- Provide the dispatcher with pertinent info including the location of the vehicle, the direction in which it was travelling, and a description of the vehicle
- Explain how the driver was acting
- After you’ve made the report, you can get back on the road.
Note, you do not want to follow the drunk driver; it could be dangerous. Instead, “leave the rest up to the heroes that work hard to make our roads safe,” explains Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
Involved in an alcohol-related crash? Call Cordisco & Saile LLC for Legal Help
Drunk driver victims are permitted by law to pursue restitution for the wrongs that have befallen them. For help holding negligent drunk drivers responsible for the harm, they’ve caused, call our injury attorneys at Cordisco & Saile LLC in Pennsylvania for a free consultation: 215-642-2335.
