Have you ever been driving across Wilmington and seen another driver behaving oddly? Maybe he is driving at night without his lights on or perhaps he is drifting a little too close to the edge of the lane.
If you are like many other drivers in the area, you have probably seen such a driver and taken evasive action to avoid a potential collision. In some cases, the driver might simply be distracted, which can be extremely dangerous.
However, you can also see the same behaviors in a driver who is drunk. For instance, weaving, erratic braking and rapid acceleration are all things that drunk drivers and distracted drivers have in common. If a driver is drunk, you might also see things like driving on the wrong side of the road, near misses or even collisions with objects, tailgating and driving at a very low speed.
If you identify a drunk driver on the road, there are a few things you can do to limit your chances of becoming a victim of a drunk driving accident. Follow these steps if you spot a drunk driver.
Make safety the priority
If you see another vehicle that you think is being operated by a drunk driver, then you need to put your safety first. The best thing you can do is to keep your distance. After you have memorized the make and model of the car as well as its license plate, slow down and let the vehicle get far enough in front of you to no longer be a risk.
Choose an alternate route
If possible, take yourself out of the equation by exiting the highway, turning off the road or simply by pulling over in a safe area. If you are no longer on the road with a drunk driver, your risk of becoming involved in an accident decreases substantially.
Call 911
As soon as you are in a safe place, call 911 to report the drunk driver. You will need to provide the make and model of the vehicle and the license plate number that you memorized when you first identified the danger. Also, be prepared to give a description of the driver’s behavior, the location where you last saw the drunk driver and the direction he or she was traveling.
Unfortunately, a drunk driver might take you by surprise and you could end up in a car wreck. If this happens, you may be able to file a claim for your injuries and other damages as a result of the actions of the drunk driver.