Drunk Driving Is An Emergency, Call 911 to Report

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service’s Watch UR BAC program has a new campaign to encourage the public to report suspected impaired drivers. All motorists have a civil duty to report impaired drivers and help keep roadways safe.

In 2019, 886 people in Texas were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes where a driver was under the influence of alcohol. This is 25 percent of the total number of people killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes. There were also 97,539 people arrested for Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) in 2019. In response to this, the Watch UR BAC program is working to remind drivers that drunk driving is not only illegal, but also a matter of life and death.

Citizens can help law enforcement locate suspected impaired drivers by calling 911 if they observe the following behaviors:

• Turning with a wide radius

• Straddling the center of lane marker

• Appearing to be impaired

• Almost striking an object or vehicle

• Driving on other than a designated roadway

• Swerving, weaving, or drifting across lanes of traffic

• Slow speed (more than 10 MPH below the speed limit)

• Stopping (without cause) in a traffic lane

• Following too closely behind vehicles

• Braking erratically

• Driving into opposing or crossing traffic

• Signaling inconsistent with driving actions

• Slow response to traffic signals

• Stopping inappropriately (other than in lane)

• Turning abruptly or illegally

• Accelerating or decelerating rapidly

• Headlights off

The Watch UR BAC program is taking steps to educate motorists on how to report impaired drivers safely and effectively by encouraging motorists to follow these safety tips to help law enforcement safely remove impaired drivers from roadways:

• Do not attempt to stop a suspected impaired driver, rather call 911 to notify local law enforcement.

• Do not speed, or otherwise engage in dangerous driving behaviors when following a suspect.

• Police stops can develop into dangerous confrontations, do not stop to observe the police investigation.

Here are some recommended steps when reporting an impaired driver:

• If driving with a passenger in the vehicle, let them contact 911.

• If driving alone, pull over and contact 911.

• Give an accurate location, including nearby landmarks, cross-streets, or mile markers.

• Provide valid contact information to the 9-1-1 operator in case you are disconnected.

• Stay on the line with 911 so they can continue to relay accurate location information to responding law enforcement.

• Give an accurate description of the vehicle being reported, including year, make, model, body style, license plate number, vehicle color, any damage to the vehicle, and other vehicle details such as tinted windows or bumper stickers.

• Follow the instructions of the 911 operator and the responding police officer.

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Family and Community Health Educator Sally Garrett in Fayette County reminds drivers that you can make a difference by helping law enforcement to get impaired drivers off the road.

For more information, call the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, at (979) 321-5224, or email Bobbi.Brooks@ag.tamu.edu.