Avoid Being Hurt by a Drunk Driver With These Tips

Drunk driving accidents are an insidious epidemic in the U.S., particularly since the dangers of getting behind the wheel while intoxicated are so well known and so easily avoided. Nevertheless, there may come a time when you do have the chance to avoid becoming someone else's biggest mistake. Here are some tips you can use to avoid being hurt by a drunk driver.

Be Alert
It's easy to fall into a kind of hypnotic trance when behind the wheel. A 16 year old out on the roads for the first time may not have the experience or the knowledge to make him a good driver, but his alertness level is likely much better than those surrounding them. If anything, they are hyper-alert, watching not only their own actions, but those of every other person on the road. To avoid being hurt by a drunk driver, it can help to recapture some of that alertness. Keep an eye on the others with whom you share the road, particularly late at night. Watch for anyone driving erratically. If you see someone whose car is swerving, fall back and avoid them.

Contact the Police
If you're like most people these days, you probably have a cell phone in the car with you. While it's a good idea to stay off the phone while operating a vehicle, this may be a good time to make an exception. If you see someone driving erratically, it is your duty to inform the police. Call 911 and report the behavior you're seeing. This doesn't mean calling the cops every time someone's front wheels cross the center line, but you should know the difference between someone who accidentally took their eyes off the road for a minute and someone who may very well be driving under the influence. Do your part and you may be able to help someone else avoid being hurt by a drunk driver.

Don't Get in the Car
Of course, millions of people are killed or hurt by a drunk driver each year not because they crashed into a stranger, but because they were sitting in the car themselves. Never get into the car with someone you know to be intoxicated, even if you feel it makes you look sensitive or weak. If anything, you should try and talk your friends out of driving while under the influence. Sometimes that isn't possible. Do yourself a favor, though, and find another way home.

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