It seems like every weekend between Georgetown and Round Rock, there is another drunk driving accident. Unfortunately, the only way to stay truly safe from a drunk driver is to simply not drive. But for most Texans, that is virtually impossible. Not only is everything bigger in the Lone Star State; things are farther apart as well. For many people, a quick trip to the nearest convenience store requires a 10-minute drive.
Since staying off the road is not an option, it is important to know some other tactics to stay safe when there are drunk drivers on the road. The following tips can help you do just that.
No late-night driving
One of the most effective things you can do to avoid a wreck with a drunk driver is to avoid driving late at night. You should definitely take care to try to stay off the road when the bars close since the number of drunk drivers significantly increases during this time.
Avoid “drinking holidays”
Certain holidays like Thanksgiving, St. Patrick’s Day, New Year’s Eve, the Fourth of July and Memorial Day usually involve people imbibing copious amounts of alcohol. Try to stay off the road during this holidays so that you are not at risk of becoming a victim of a drunk driver.
Stay to the right
If you are on the road during hours when your chances of encountering a drunk driver are greater, stay to the far right. Some of the most catastrophic drunk driving accidents involve wrecks with a wrong-way driver. If you stay as far to the right as is safe, you have a better chance of avoiding this kind of collision.
Call it in
If you see a driver who seems to be drunk, pull over to a safe place and call the police as soon as possible. Be prepared to give a description and license plate of the car, your current location, and the direction the vehicle was traveling in. Do not try to follow the drunk driver or take any other action that might put you or someone else in danger.
While the above tips can help you avoid an accident with a drunk driver, some drunk driving accidents are unavoidable due to how reckless and negligent the drunk driver is. If you or a loved one has been the victim of a drunk driver, be sure to look into all of your legal options for obtaining full and fair compensation for damages.
