When people drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol, they’re a danger to themselves and everyone else on the road. Far too many lives are lost each year in impaired driving crashes. If you see someone driving erratically or showing signs they may be impaired, notifying law enforcement may save a life. Most impaired driving crashes in Maryland happen between 8 p.m. and 4 a.m. The following are 12 behaviors law enforcement officers often notice before pulling drivers over for a suspected DUI:
- Drinking right before getting into the vehicle;
- Drinking alcohol in the vehicle;
- Sitting too close to the windshield;
- Driving unusually slowly;
- Braking suddenly;
- Swerving, drifting and weaving;
- Making sudden or illegal turns;
- Making unusually wide turns;
- Having near misses or collisions with obstacles;
- Running red lights or stopping at green lights;
- Driving on the wrong side of the road; and
- Driving without headlights at night.
If you see a driver exhibiting any of the above behaviors, do not approach them. If there’s a passenger with you, or if you have a hands-free calling option, dial 9-1-1 and report the behavior, as well as any identifying details of the vehicle. Otherwise, pull over to a safe location and make the call. Don’t place yourself or others at risk by attempting to intervene, that job is best left to the professionals.