Drunk Driver is ahead, What do you do?
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Know What You Would Do?
You’re driving down the freeway in the middle lane and you notice that two cars ahead in the right lane is a driver who is having a really hard time keeping their car on the road. It almost hits the guard rail and you flinch. The car behind the erratic driver slows way down to give the unpredictable driver some room. Meanwhile, you also slow down because the last thing you want to do is get next to this car which is now swerving way into your lane and back towards the guard rail. It’s obvious to you and the cars around you that this person is impaired by something! Is it alcohol? Is it Drugs? You don’t really care at that time, you just want to stay clear.
What Are You Thinking?
The conversation that goes on in your head is very fast and very conflicted when you’re in the moment.
You think, ‘Should I call 911 on this person and get them off the road before they kill someone?’
‘Maybe I will just follow them and make sure they get to where they’re going safely.’
‘What if I’m wrong and this is just someone who wasn’t paying attention for a min, and swerved?’
‘Maybe someone else has already called. I mean, everyone can see how this person is driving.’
‘I really need to get home, maybe it’s none of my business.’
As the driver comes within inches of the guard rail now your heart jumps to your throat and you think,
‘Could I live with myself if something happens to this driver or someone else and I didn't call?’
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Guilt Sets In
Then you get a mental flash of everyone you've ever known who have gotten a DUI citation and how much money they've had to spend and how much strain it puts on some families. Right at that time you think of all the people who have lost family and friends to Drunk Drivers and the all of the needless pain it has caused innocent people.
Selfish Thoughts
You grab your phone and call 911. As it’s ringing you notice the car exiting the freeway, at your exit. Your first selfish thought is, ’Oh no, this driver could live by MY family.’ Then immediate guilt sets in and you realize, ‘this driver lives by SOMEONES family.’
While on the phone with the 911 Operator you’re following the driver in order to give as much detail as you can. The car is turning onto side roads with no other traffic so it becomes obvious that you are following them and you begin to think, ‘What if this person is on a drug other than alcohol and it makes them paranoid or violent?’ ‘What if they stop the car, get out and try to hurt me?’
Shame
When you’re done with the call and safely on your way home, there is a cloud of guilt and shame looming over your feeling of satisfaction for having done the right thing. The guilt and shame is for all the selfish thoughts that ran in your head and all the justifications that prevented you from calling right away.
Reflection
This situation happened to me last night.
I have always prided myself on being the kind of person who takes a stand for what’s right and firmly believes in accountability.
I grew up in a home that was ruined by alcohol and I don’t allow any drinking around my kids because of it. If someone is being mistreated, discriminated against or bullied, I am always the one who comes to their defense.
I am a firm advocate against Drunk Driving. So why did I hesitate to get involved when the time came to really make a difference?
I’m not sure but, it has made me reevaluate who I actually am as opposed to who I think I am.
Would you report a Drunk Driver?
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Thank you for your thoughtful comments, you are absolutely right! I did end up calling and reporting the driver once I was certain that they were intoxicated and, I'm glad I did. I was just really surprised at my own initial hesitation.
I don't think you feel guilt and shame for calling on them. You may have saved someone's life. I usually do call on them the minute I see them. There is no reason to drink and drive. I know you can sit somewhere in your for a last resort until you sober up, friends can drive you home. You can call someone. You can walk it off until your sober. You can sleep over if you're at a friends. When I was younger my friends and me always made sure there was someone that was sober to drive, we slept over, or walked until we were sober. We never got in a car for any reason. So I know when others do it, it is just them being stupid. I even had a bartender drive me home one time because my friend was being stupid, and wouldn't give me the keys. I didn't want to drink, and didn't want him too. He was mad because I was sober and left him at the bar, but my life was more important that drinking. He was an alcoholic so in those cases you can call a million times 911, but they never stop doing it. So fortunately for alcoholics they need to be picked up so they lose their license, but again some keep doing it anyway. They complain because legally they can't drive, but continue doing it. It's incredible that even when they are in a car accident they choose to keep doing it. Some people just don't learn, so of course I don't feel guilty for reporting them, because I don't know if they are one of those people that never learn there lesson, and it just takes once to kill someone.
Your right HattieMattieMae. There are many choices we can make instead of driving intoxicated. Thank you for sharing!
You would think that after all the aftermath and the tragedy's that take place due to drunk driving, people would get the message. Sadly, they don't
I'm glad you reported them, I would too in a heartbeat. It amazes me that 9/10 times an accident involving a drunk driver leads to the innocent victim dying while the drunk gets to live and receive 3 meals a day on my tax dollars!!!!!!!!!!
Very interesting hub. I think you were completely right to report the driver - you might have saved someone's life. It's not your fault this man or woman was an idiot and decided to drive while drunk, so you shouldn't be so hard on yourself.
Well done on doing the right thing.
dadibobs Level 4 Commenter 3 months ago
The fear of being wrong is huge.
There is a real risk of becoming involved with any subsequent prosecution of this person, for example court, and therefore the issues of should you get involved become apparent.
Due to this persons actions you are now doubting yourself, but you have already listed everything that flew through your mind, all within a matter of minutes.
Only you can decide what you should have done, only you were there, but i don't think it's fair to beat yourself up about it.
This persons actions have caused you to feel this way, thank god they didn't cause a crash, but there is still something you could do.
Report the incident anyway, anonymously if you feel you need to, for once a drunk driver, normally always a drunk driver. By reporting it after the fact, the car would be flagged for future police attention, therefore they are much more likely to be stopped by the police, preventing this incident from being repeated.
This is just one of those selfish acts, which leaves normal balanced people feeling discomfort and doubt, just remember, you didn't do this.
Hope it helps