6 Signs a Driver May be Drunk

Tuesday, March 15, 2022 by The Law Offices of J. Jeffrey Herman

Being intoxicated severely hinders one’s ability to safely operate a motor vehicle. Despite this, every year throughout California, drunk drivers cause accidents that claim the lives of innocent victims. Those who survive these accidents may still be left with serious injuries that can have a major impact on their finances and quality of life.

Perhaps you’re a responsible motorist who would never get behind the wheel while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. However, you sadly can’t control the actions of other drivers. That’s why, when driving, you must keep an eye out for signs indicating a nearby motorist is intoxicated. Doing so can help you avoid a devastating accident.

Signs that a nearby driver is drunk include (but are not necessarily limited to) the following:

Not Using Headlights in Dark Conditions

If you are driving at night or in otherwise dark conditions and you spot another vehicle whose driver has not turned on the headlights, there is a good chance that vehicle’s operator is somehow impaired. It’s not uncommon for drunk drivers to forget to turn on their headlights when driving at night.

Sudden Braking

Another frequent sign of a drunk driver is sudden braking. A driver who quickly applies the brakes for seemingly no reason or who applies their brakes erratically may be drunk. Additionally, a driver may be intoxicated if they accelerate very suddenly and unnecessarily.

Failure to Maintain One’s Lane

This is one of the top warning signs police officers look for when monitoring California’s roads for the presence of drunk drivers. Someone who is too drunk to safely operate their vehicle may fail to maintain their lane or frequently drift off the side of the road. Keep your distance from such drivers when you spot them. If you absolutely must pass such a driver, do so very quickly.

Wide Turns

This is a lesser-known sign of a drunk driver that you must also be aware of. When a drunk driver makes a turn, the radius of said turn may be unusually wide. Intoxication simply limits one’s ability to properly gauge how wide a turn’s radius should be.

Illegal Turns

Intoxicated drivers may also make illegal turns. They might do so because alcohol has limited their inhibitions or has limited their ability to realize when a turn or other such maneuver is against the law.

Almost Striking Objects

Someone who is driving while drunk is already generally less able to operate their vehicle as smoothly as they could while sober. Being drunk can also render someone less likely to notice objects or hazards on the road. As such, drunk drivers can often be seen coming dangerously close to striking nearby objects or other vehicles.

Again, paying attention to these warning signs should help you improve your chances of avoiding being the victim of a drunk driving accident. If you ever are involved in an accident caused by a drunk driver, you can seek compensation for your medical bills and other such losses. At the Law offices of J. Jeffrey Herman, handling car accident cases in Oxnard, Centura, Camarillo, and other nearby California cities, we are prepared to help you secure the compensation to which you may be entitled. Call us today at 805-983-2344 or contact us online to learn more about your options.