3 Signs of Impairment to Watch for When Driving on New Year’s Eve

New Year’s Eve is one of the most popular drinking days of the year. It is common to do a champagne toast at midnight, and for a lot of Americans, a tall flute of bubbly is just one of the many drinks they will consume over the course of the evening.

Sadly, increased alcohol consumption around the holidays can have devastating consequences. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, there are between two and three times more fatalities in alcohol-related collisions around Christmas and New Year’s than there are at other times of the year.

The only foolproof way to avoid a drunk driving accident on New Year’s Eve is to stay off the roads entirely. A lot of people use the holiday to catch up with friends and loved ones, though, so if staying in is not an option, there are steps you can take to reduce the risk of getting into a serious collision. For example, if you can recognize the signs of drunk driving, you may be able to keep your distance from impaired motorists should you come across any while en route to the festivities.

Unfortunately, even the most conscientious drivers can find themselves in a devastating drunk driving collision despite their best efforts to avoid one. If you were hurt in a car accident with an impaired motorist, you may be eligible for compensation to cover medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Contact the Cooper Law Firm to discuss your case and determine the best way to proceed. A compassionate Canton accident attorney will review the details of your crash and help you gather essential evidence. Call 903-297-0037 to schedule a free consultation.

Read on to learn about some of the most common signs of drunk driving to watch out for when driving on New Year’s Eve:

1. Swerving or Drifting

People who are impaired will struggle to maintain the proper lane positioning. They might drift gradually out of the correct lane, or they might swerve violently in an attempt to stay in it. Drifting across traffic or onto the shoulder is also a common sign of drowsy driving, which can be just as dangerous as drunk driving.

2. Sudden Accelerating or Decelerating

Speeding alone may not be a sign of drunk driving, but accelerating or decelerating rapidly for no apparent reason can be indicative of impairment. Drunk drivers often struggle to maintain a reasonable speed, and they may feel the need to overcorrect by speeding up or slowing down suddenly.

3. Poor Spatial Awareness

Alcohol affects both hand-eye coordination and spatial awareness, which means drunk drivers cannot judge their own proximity to other objects accurately. As a result, they might make sharp turns or stop far too early or much too late at traffic signals.

Knowing the most common signs of impairment can help you avoid catastrophic collisions, but at the end of the day, a lot of drunk driving accidents seemingly come out of nowhere. If you were hurt in a crash that you could not avoid, contact the Cooper Law Firm.

Attorney N. Eric Cooper is proud to represent accident victims throughout East Texas. Call 903-297-0037 to schedule a free case evaluation with an accident lawyer in Canton. If you want to learn more about drunk driving accident claims in Texas, visit USAttorneys.com.