Factors That May Indicate an Impaired Driver

Data published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in 2021 outlined how at least 30% of motor vehicle collisions that year were attributable to drunk driving. Those same statistics also captured how an estimated 13,384 individuals lost their lives in alcohol-involved crashes that same year.

No one who decides to drink alcohol should ever get behind the wheel of a vehicle.

However, even though every driver should know that the Montana State Legislature has imposed penalties for driving drunk to discourage this practice, motorists are going to do it anyway in hopes they don’t get caught or hurt anyone. Because of this, it places the onus on the rest of us who abide by the law to understand the factors that may indicate an impaired driver.

Below, we’ll share what to look for when sharing the road with your fellow motorists here in Bozeman or elsewhere in our state in hopes that it helps you avoid a collision with an intoxicated driver yourself.

Indicators of Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol

Signs a driver you’re sharing the road with may be inebriated include:

• They are not traveling at a consistent speed: You may notice a driver sporadically speeding up or suddenly pumping their brakes, although there doesn’t appear to be any apparent, valid reason for doing so.
• A motorist fails to maintain their lane: Barring some rural dirt and single-lane roads, almost every roadway in our state has lines that run down it. These often separate multiple lanes of traffic traveling in the same and opposing directions. Additionally, roadways may feature raised medians, embankments, and concrete barriers to keep traffic orderly and safe. One common tell-tale sign that a motorist may be driving under the influence of alcohol is if they travel outside their lane into a nearby one or into oncoming traffic, whether for a few seconds or longer, especially if it occurs repeatedly.
• A driver is witnessed bopping and weaving within their own lane: Motorists are supposed to stay centered in their lane as opposed to repeatedly oscillating from side to side within it. Moving all around within a single lane, especially on a straight road with limited traffic, may indicate that a motorist is intoxicated.
• They are gravitating far too close to one side of the road: Many Montana roadways have low shoulders to the right. Distances between opposing traffic lanes may be limited, making the possibility of a crash high if a driver isn’t cautious about maintaining their lane. This lack of margin should indicate that most motorists should maintain a consistent positioning, far away from the edges of their lanes. However, a drunk driver’s judgment may be poor, leading them not to consider this. So, if you see a motorist driving too close to parked cars, curbs, and other potential hazards, this may indicate that they’re alcohol-impaired.
• A driver tailgates another: You’ve likely had it happen to you many times before. Another motorist rides your bumper, giving them little to no opportunity to stop to avoid crashing into you if you apply your brakes. While being in a hurry may motivate them to engage in road rage using this approach, a motorist may be doing this because their visual perception is impaired because they’re experiencing judgment is impaired because they’re drunk.
• A motorist that does not yield to the right of way: When drivers approach intersections, whether they’re ones with traffic signals or signs (or nothing at all), they have an obligation to follow the rules of the road. This often involves them yielding to the right of way of the motorist who has the green light or who arrived at a stop sign first. If you notice a motorist not following the rules of the road as they should, especially repeatedly, this may indicate that they are under the influence of alcohol.

What Should You Do If You Suspect a Fellow Driver Is Drunk?

If you have any inkling that a motorist you’re sharing the road with is drunk, you should consider pulling over as soon as possible. If you can take note of their license plate number and a basic description of them or their vehicle and the direction they were traveling in, this can be quite helpful as your next step should be to call 911 to report what you saw once you’re in a safe enough position to do so.

What To Do If an Impaired Motorist Struck You

You read the number above regarding how often fatal alcohol-involved auto accidents occur in our country. While, if you’re reading this, that driver you witnessed driving erratically may have spared your life, you may still be left with completely preventable, severely debilitating injuries that have the potential to change the trajectory of your life.

The costs associated with treating injuries caused by a drunk driving accident can be significant. You may be unable to work for a long period of time or be incapable of returning to the same well-paying career you previously had. The mounting financial damages you’ve incurred in a preventable crash like this may be incredibly stressful. This is where working together with a car accident attorney in Bozeman can be tremendously helpful.

Our legal team at Western Justice Associates, PLLC can help you build your auto collision case as you focus on your recovery. If you want to better understand how this may work, be sure to reach out to us by phone or email for a free case evaluation.