The period between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day is one of the worst times of the year when it comes to drunk driving. That is why it is especially important to drive carefully, and watch for the potential signs of a drunk driver on the road. Here are just some of the ways that you can stay safe from drunk drivers this holiday season:

  1. Give other vehicles a lot of space
    • You should always make sure to give a safe amount of space from any vehicle in front of you. This gives you ample time to brake or maneuver in the event you find yourself behind a drunk driver.
  2. Avoid reckless driving habits
    • You cannot always avoid an accident from drunk drivers, but you can potentially limit the harm you suffer if you do get into a collision. That is why you should avoid bad habits that can increase your risk of being injured in an accident, such as speeding, driving without a seatbelt, or texting and driving.
  3. Watch for erratic driving behaviors
    • Drunk drivers can often be spotted due to their erratic driving, such as swerving between lanes, stopping or accelerating suddenly, or narrowly avoiding impacting other vehicles. If you see someone whose driving is all over the place, you should give them a wide berth and assume the driver may be drunk.
  4. Be careful around vehicles driving too slowly
    • On the flip side, some drunk drivers are aware of how poor their control over their vehicle is when they are drunk, and will overcompensate in the other direction. This leads them to drive much lower than the speed limit, all to avoid the kinds of erratic driving that might otherwise give them away.
  5. Be especially careful when driving at night
    • Perhaps unsurprisingly, drunk drivers are a far more common problem at night than they are during the day. That is why you should avoid driving at night during the holidays whenever possible, and take special caution if you cannot avoid doing so.
  6. Watch for issues with headlights or windshield wipers
    • Some drunk drivers will run windshield wipers when it isn’t raining or snowing, mistaking their blurry vision for rain on their windshield. They may also forget to turn on their headlights at night, either due to forgetfulness or simply not realizing their lights are not already on.
  7. Do not get in the car with someone who seems drunk
    • Finally, you should make sure to protect yourself by avoiding getting into a vehicle with a driver who seems impaired. Instead, use a designated driver, or if that is not possible, call for a taxi or rideshare service, which is substantially safer.

If you have been injured as a result of someone else’s negligence, you should contact the Tennessee personal injury lawyers at the Keith Williams Law Group. With convenient offices located in Nashville and Lebanon, our lawyers will work with you to create a litigation strategy that protects your legal rights and serves your personal needs. For more information or a free consultation, please contact us at 615-444-2900 or visit our contact page.