While distracted driving is quickly gaining ground as the top cause of auto accidents, drunk driving still holds the number one spot as the cause of car crashes that end in fatalities. In their latest gathering of statistics, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that drunk driving deaths (nearly 10,500 fatalities) increased by 1.7 percent in 2016.
Bad Behaviors Increase while Driving Drunk
Plenty of car crashes occur when alcohol isn’t involved, but drunk driving ultimately increases the chances of other bad driving behaviors including:
- Speeding
- Distraction
- Drowsy driving
- Falling asleep at the wheel
- Not wearing a seatbelt
- Slow reflexes
- Poor decision-making
- Loss of control
- Lane departure
Any of these actions threaten the safety of the drunk driver, his or her passengers, and any other motorists on the road. The NHTSA found that motorcyclist and pedestrian deaths accounted for more than a third of the year-to-year increase of driving-related fatalities.
Human choices are linked to an astonishing 94 percent of serious car crashes. Choosing not to drink and drive saves lives.
Identifying Michigan Drunk Drivers
Defensive driving is one of the best ways to protect yourself on any road. This means being able to identify a drunk driver on Michigan highways. When you spot a vehicle exhibiting signs of drunk driving, you can stay out of their way or take a different route to avoid them. Some motorists choose to report the driver. It’s not your responsibility to police Michigan highways, but identifying a hazard can help save lives.
Some of the signs of drunk driving are obvious. Others may just seem to be bad driving behavior in general. Either way, drivers who exhibit the following behaviors are a threat to your road safety:
- Veering into other lanes
- Weaving back and forth
- Drifting to the side of the road
- Rapidly accelerating or decelerating
- Braking erratically
- Tailgating
- Driving far below the speed limit
- Straddling the center line
- Making wide turns
The drunk drivers who regularly get behind the wheel after drinking are some of the most terrifying motorists – if they have driven drunk before without negative consequences, they are far more likely to drink and drive again. These repeat offenders often consider themselves capable of operating a vehicle while under the influence when, in reality, they have merely gotten lucky that they haven’t caused a fatal accident.
Is It Really Drunk Driving?
Any distracted or drowsy drivers can exhibit the same behaviors as a drunk driver. Whatever the case, you can’t know what’s causing the poor driving – what you do know is that the driver is not completely focused on operating their vehicle, and that’s a danger to you and every driver on the road around you.
Teen drivers who drink up the stakes for fatal accidents, as they already consider themselves infallible. However, teens are a high-risk driving group for their inexperience and level of distraction. Senior drivers who drink are also major threats on highways, with age-related issues like slower reflexes, vision problems, hearing problems, and medication side effects already impairing their driving skills.
Contact Thurswell Law for a free consultation if you have been in an accident with a drunk driver, or if you have lost a loved one in a drunk driving crash. We do not charge any fees unless you collect. Call (248) 354-2222 today to schedule your consultation.
