Do you ever feel like you have a bulls-eye on your car? Some days it seems like you are taking your life into your own hands just driving down the road.
According to the Alabama Department of Transportation, someone is injured in a traffic accident about every 11 minutes of every day. And, more than one in three drivers in Alabama will be involved in a serious motor vehicle accident during their lives. While bad drivers cause a number of accidents, many are actually distracted or impaired.
How to spot impaired drivers
How do you know if the car headed your way is driven by someone who is under the influence of drugs or alcohol? While there is no foolproof way to avoid a car accident, it can help to know how to spot a drunk, drugged or overly-tired driver.
Here are some indications that a driver is impaired:
- Crossing or driving on the centerline of the road
- Suddenly slowing down or speeding up without reason
- Driving to slowly or carefully (in order to avoid detection)
- Tailgating or starting and stopping suddenly
- Swinging too wide to make a turn or cutting it too close and driving over the curb
- Failing to turn off a blinker or turn on their lights at night
Staying at home and never driving is probably not an option for you. If you believe another driver is impaired, just stay away as best as you can. Get off the road, drive a different route or slow down to let the other driver get far away from you.
If you do find yourself in the wrong place at the wrong time and are injured in a car accident, the person responsible should pay for your medical expenses and other losses. Stay safe out there.