Driving While Intoxicated
Drunk driving is often legally defined as driving or operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08% or higher. However, it can also include driving while using any kind of substance that impairs mental and physical motor skills, including illegal drugs, legal drugs, or alcohol.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimated, in 2006, that almost 18,000 people died in the United States as a result of alcohol-related collisions, while over 500,000 people were injured in alcohol-related accidents. Despite the severe penalties for driving while intoxicated, including jail time, hefty fines, and the revocation of a driver’s license, drunk driving continues to occur on a regular basis.
The safest and most effective means of avoiding a drunk driving accident is to simply not drive drunk. Unfortunately, this does not protect you from other drunk drivers. Here are some common driving behaviors exhibited by drunk drivers that you can watch out for while driving, including the statistical chance that the driver is intoxicated, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- Turning with a wide turn radius: 65%
- Driving over the lane marker: 65%
- Almost striking another vehicle or stationary object: 60%
- Weaving between lanes: 60%
- Swerving to avoid objects: 55%
- Drifting across lanes: 50%
- Excessively slow speeds: 50%
- Erratic braking: 45%
- Making turn signals inconsistent with driving actions: 40%
Contact Us
This article is not intended to serve as, or as a replacement for, legal advice. If you have been injured by a drunk driver or have been involved in any kind of car accident, contact Jacksonville personal injury lawyer Don Guthrie at 904-296-1088.