Our Mommyhood

Unfortunately, a large part of the responsibility of driving is being aware of other drivers on the road. Not only do you have to worry about your own driving but you have to pay close attention to how others sharing the road with you are driving. This responsibility is heightened when it comes to sharing the road with drunk drivers. While you can’t avoid everyone on the road, you can be on the lookout for the tell-tale signs of an intoxicated driver.

Avoid the Road

To truly avoid a drunk driver you have to stay off of the road. While this isn’t feasible 90 percent of the time, there are times that you can choose to stay home. Major holidays like New Years Eve and lesser holidays like St. Patrick’s Day are more likely to see drunk drivers take to the streets. These are great nights to choose to stay home and bond with the family!

Know the Signs

The only difference between you and traffic cops is that they are trained to look for drunk drivers. By knowing the giveaways of an intoxicated driver, you can better avoid them on the road. Drivers who are impaired tend to:

- Weave back and forth across different lanes
- Follow the car ahead of them too closely
- Fail to stop at stop signs or signal lights
- Drive too fast or too slow
- Pause or come to a complete stop at intersections when there is no legal reason to do so
- Take an inordinate amount of time to start from a stopping position
- Fail to turn headlights on or use turn signals

What to Do

If you are fairly certain that you are near a drunk driver there are steps you can take to avoid a collision and keep others on the road safe.

If you are behind a drunk driver:
- Follow at a safe distance
- Make note of the license plate number and the make, model and color of the vehicle
- Make note of your exact location. If you are on the highway, look for a mile marker.
- Dial 911 and report the information
- Follow any instructions given by the dispatcher

If you are in front of a drunk driver:
- If it is safe to do so, pull to the side of the road and stop
- Once the car has passed you safely, follow the steps above

Use the Situation as a Lesson

If your children are in the car with you, use what has just happened as a lesson. Now is the perfect time to explain to your children what drunk driving is and why it is dangerous. Explain to them, age appropriately, the steps you have just taken and also explain that those steps are part of the responsibility of driving.

While you can’t always steer clear of drunk drivers, you can do your best to avoid them. Don’t be afraid to call the authorities if you become aware of an impaired driver. While no one wants to be the cause of someone being arrested for DUI, you have to remember that the consequences of that person’s decision rests squarely on their shoulders. Concentrate on the fact that you have acted responsibly and may have just saved someone else from a very serious collision.

Robin Boyd works for a teen counseling center and is a content contributor for kellislaw.com, a philadelphia dui lawyer specializing in DUI.

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