How To Identify A Potentially Impaired Driver

Sharing the road with impaired drivers poses a significant risk to everyone's safety. Recognizing the signs of a potentially intoxicated driver can empower individuals to take proactive measures, such as increasing their following distance or reporting the vehicle to authorities, thereby potentially preventing accidents and saving lives.

This blog aims to provide practical tips and observable signs that may indicate a driver is impaired by alcohol or drugs. It is important to note that these are general indicators and not definitive proof of impairment, but they should prompt heightened awareness and caution. By being vigilant and understanding these signs, we can all contribute to keeping our roads safer.

Erratic Driving Behaviors

Potentially impaired drivers often exhibit noticeable inconsistencies and errors in their driving:

Weaving or Swerving: Difficulty maintaining a straight line, drifting across lanes, or swerving erratically within their lane are common signs of impaired motor control and judgment.

Unusual Speed Variations: Driving significantly below or above the speed limit, or frequent and unexplained changes in speed, can indicate impaired judgment and coordination.

Sudden or Jerky Movements: Abrupt braking, sudden acceleration, or jerky steering adjustments can suggest impaired reaction time and motor control.

Ignoring Traffic Signals or Signs: Running red lights, stop signs, or other traffic signals indicates impaired judgment and awareness.

Slow or Unsteady Acceleration or Braking: Hesitant or overly forceful acceleration or braking can be a sign of impaired coordination and reaction time.

Driving on the Wrong Side of the Road: This is an extreme and obvious sign of severe impairment and disorientation.

Making Wide Turns or Drifting During Turns: Difficulty judging distances and controlling the vehicle during turns can be indicative of impairment.

These erratic driving behaviors are often the most visible indicators that a driver may be under the influence and warrant increased caution from other motorists.

Issues with Vehicle Control

Beyond general erratic driving, impaired drivers may also struggle with the basic control of their vehicle:

Difficulty Staying in Lane: Repeatedly crossing lane markers or driving on the lane divider lines suggests impaired lane positioning.

Over-Correcting: Making frequent and exaggerated steering adjustments to try and stay within the lane is a sign of impaired motor control.

Hitting Curbs or Other Objects: Bumping into curbs, lane markers, or other stationary objects can indicate impaired spatial awareness and coordination.

Headlights Off at Night: Forgetting to turn on headlights at night is a sign of impaired judgment and awareness.

Excessive or Unnecessary Use of Horn: Inappropriate or excessive honking might indicate erratic behavior or impaired judgment.

Driving Too Close to Other Vehicles (Tailgating): Impaired judgment can lead to a failure to maintain a safe following distance.

These issues with basic vehicle control highlight a driver's diminished ability to safely operate a motor vehicle.

Behavioral Clues

In addition to how the vehicle is being driven, certain driver behaviors can also suggest impairment:

Aggressive Driving: Tailgating, speeding, frequent lane changes without signaling, and road rage can sometimes be associated with alcohol or drug use.

Slow and Deliberate Movements: In contrast to erratic driving, some impaired drivers may exhibit unusually slow and deliberate movements, as if overcompensating for their lack of coordination.

Staring or Fixed Gaze: An impaired driver might have a fixed or unfocused gaze, indicating reduced awareness of their surroundings.

Delayed Reactions to Traffic Signals: Hesitating for an unusually long time at green lights or stop signs can be a sign of slowed processing.

Windows Down in Cold Weather: This seemingly unusual behavior might be an attempt to stay awake or counteract the effects of a substance.

These behavioral clues, when observed in conjunction with erratic driving, can raise further suspicion of impairment.

What to Do If You Suspect an Impaired Driver

If you observe a driver exhibiting several of the signs mentioned above, it is important to prioritize your own safety and the safety of others:

Maintain a Safe Distance: Increase your following distance significantly to allow for unexpected actions by the potentially impaired driver.

Do Not Attempt to Intervene: Do not try to stop the vehicle or engage with the driver directly, as this could be dangerous.

Note the Vehicle's Description and Location: If it is safe to do so, try to note the make, model, color, and license plate number of the vehicle, as well as its direction of travel and current location.

Contact Local Authorities: If you believe a driver is a danger to themselves and others, safely pull over and contact your local police or emergency services. Provide them with the vehicle's description, location, and the behaviors you observed.

Be a Responsible Passenger: If you are a passenger in a vehicle with a driver you suspect is impaired, speak up and urge them not to drive. If necessary, find an alternative way to get home.

Your responsible actions can help prevent a potentially tragic accident.

According to Attorney and Prosecutor Stephen Bridger, “Recognizing the signs of a potentially impaired driver is a crucial aspect of road safety. Erratic driving, issues with vehicle control, and certain behavioral clues can all be indicators that a driver's ability to operate a vehicle safely is compromised.”

By being aware of these signs and knowing how to respond responsibly, we can all play a role in keeping our roads safer for everyone. Remember that observing these signs does not provide definitive proof of impairment, but it should prompt caution and, when appropriate, a call to the authorities.

About the Author

This blog was contributed by a dedicated advocate for road safety, aiming to empower everyday citizens with the knowledge to recognize dangerous driving behaviors and contribute to safer communities.