10 signs you’re on the road with a drunk driver: Halton police

With the festive season well underway, Halton police are advising drivers to keep an eye out for 10 signs that another driver on the road might be impaired.

“Your safety matters, and recognizing these signs can help keep our roads safer for everyone,” police said on X.

According to police, drivers should be on the lookout for vehicles doing the following:

1. Driving unreasonably fast, slow, or at an inconsistent speed
2. Drifting in and out of lanes
3. Tailgating (following too closely) and changing lanes frequently
4. Making exceptionally wide turns
5. Changing lanes or passing without sufficient clearance
6. Overshooting or stopping well before stop signs or stop lights
7. Disregarding signals and lights
8. Approaching signals or leaving intersections too quickly or slowly
9. Driving without headlights, failing to lower high beams or leaving turn signals on
10. Driving with the windows open in cold or inclement weather

Here are 10 possible signs of impaired driving. Your safety matters, and recognizing these signs can help keep our roads safer for everyone ❄️ ☃️ #FestiveRIDE pic.twitter.com/q37P3dompE

— Halton Police (@HaltonPolice) December 13, 2023

On their website, Halton police remind people that impaired driving–which occurs when someone drives while their judgement is impacted by drugs or alcohol–is a criminal offence.

“The maximum legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) for fully licensed drivers is to be under 80 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood, or a ‘BAC of 0.08 BAC.’ Driving with a BAC of 0.08 or over is a criminal offence and the penalties are severe,” police say.

“In Ontario, you will also face serious consequences if your BAC is between 0.05 and 0.08. This is commonly referred to as the ‘warn range.’

According to the Ministry of Transportation, penalties for impaired driving can include an immediate licence suspension, fines and vehicle impoundment. Drivers convicted of impaired driving might also be enrolled in education or treatment programs, and those convicted of an offence in court could face more serious penalties.

Drivers who injure or kill someone while impaired could face prison time.

According to MADD Canada, an average of four Canadians are killed and 175 are injured in impairment-related crashes every day.

Halton police’s 2022 annual report indicates 421 impaired driving charges were issued in the region (which includes Oakville, Burlington, Milton and Halton Hills) in 2022–down from 490 in 2021.

If you suspect someone is driving while impaired, Halton police advise calling 9-1-1 when it’s safe to do so.

“Maintain a safe distance and do not attempt to follow the driver,” police say.