| Police officers searching for drunk drivers use a | | | | speed limit. Most drunk drivers are not actually |
| variety of different clues to determine whether or not | | | | speeding, but instead driving slowly as they attempt to |
| they should pull over a driver under the reasonable | | | | stay in their lane. |
| suspicion of drunk driving. Although some of these | | | | - Stopping inappropriately. A drunk driver may stop at |
| actions may be repeated by sober drivers, they are | | | | a green light, at an unmarked intersection, or at another |
| indicators of distracted, unfocused, and therefore | | | | area where a stop is not needed. |
| dangerous driving. According to research from the | | | | - Tailgating. A drunk driver may use the car in front as |
| National Highway Traffic Safety Administration | | | | a guide. |
| (NHTSA), particular driver behaviors are better | | | | - Drifting. The driver over-steers, which causes the |
| indicators than others of drunk driving. In descending | | | | rear wheels to lose traction. |
| order, the following are reasons cited by officers as | | | | - Driving on top of the lane marker. |
| ways to identify drunk drivers: | | | | - Erratic braking. |
| - Turning with too wide a radius. Impaired drivers often | | | | - Driving into crossing traffic or in the opposite lane. |
| swing out too wide to make an easily-maneuverable | | | | - Inappropriate signaling. An impaired driver may drive |
| turn. | | | | with a flashing turn signal, may use the wrong turn |
| - Straddling the center lane. A drunk driver may use | | | | signal, or may signal far ahead of the turn. |
| the center line to help them concentrate on driving in a | | | | - Responding slowly to traffic signals. |
| straight line without realizing they are actually driving | | | | - Abrupt or illegal turns. |
| down the center. | | | | - Rapid acceleration or deceleration. |
| - Appearing to be drunk. Police may pull over a driver | | | | - Driving without headlights. Officers are looking for |
| who is leaning to the side or who is hunched over the | | | | drivers that perform any of the above actions. If an |
| wheel. | | | | officer pulls a vehicle over and the driver is intoxicated, |
| - Almost running into another vehicle or an object. | | | | he or she may be charged with drunk driving. Even if |
| - Weaving, either between lanes or within the lane. | | | | the driver is not over the legal limit, he or she may be |
| - Driving on a surface other than the designated road, | | | | cited for reckless driving. |
| such as a sidewalk or a lot. | | | | For more information about drunk driving laws, sobriety |
| - Swerving. | | | | tests, and DUIs, visit the website of Rhode Island DUI |
| - Driving at a speed more than 10mph below the | | | | defense lawyer James Powderly. |