The way that someone drives does not guarantee that they are impaired. They could simply be inexperienced and making mistakes. Or there could be another issue, such as fatigue or distraction. Both of these can cause many of the same mistakes as being intoxicated.
However, one of the first indicators to a police officer that someone may be impaired is simply the way that they’re driving and the errors that they are making. This is important because the police need to see some evidence so that they have reasonable suspicion to stop the car.
Potential signs of a drunk driver
With this in mind, here are a few common signs of impairment:
- Accelerating or decelerating very quickly
- Not responding to green lights and other traffic signals
- Driving excessively fast and recklessly
- Driving well under the speed limit, perhaps nervously
- Weaving back and forth in the lane or drifting from one side to the other
- Driving the wrong way down a one-way street
- Driving at night without the headlights on
- Making slow or exaggerated maneuvers, such as wide turns
- Driving in the middle of the road, with the wheels straddling the center line
- Having close calls, such as a near miss with another vehicle that is barely avoided
These are just a few examples of the many potential reasons a police officer may suspect that someone is impaired. But it is important for them to have a valid reason to stop the car, so those who are facing charges must know what legal defense options they have—especially if they believe the initial traffic stop was not warranted.