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The first thing which attracts a police officer’s attention in most DUI cases is the person’s driving. Officers generally are trained to be looking for certain driving symptoms — often with the aid of a book published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration entitled “Guide for Detecting Drunk Drivers at Night: A DUI Detection Guide”. The booklet is based upon federally-financed field research and identifies the 19 most common indicators of drunk driving:
- Straddling Center or Lane Maker
- Drifting
- Turning with Wide Radius
- Weaving
- Almost Striking Object or Vehicle
- Stopping (without cause) in Traffic Lane
- Appearing to be Drunk
- Driving on Other Than Designated Roadway
- Swerving
- Slow Speed (more than 20 mph below limit)
- Tires on Center or Lane Maker
- Braking Erratically
- Driving Into Opposing or Crossing Traffic
- Turning Abruptly or Illegally
- Following Too Closely
- Headlights Off
- Stopping Inappropriately (other than in lane)
- Accelerating or Decelerating Rapidly
- Signaling Inconsistent with Driving Actions
Although questionable to say the least, the list of symptoms include the mathematical probability that the driver is intoxicated. For example, the research indicates that “the chances are 60 out of 100” that a driver who is “weaving” has a blood-alcohol concentration above the legal limit. (Note: speeding is not listed as a symptom).
Of course, the opposites must also be true: 40 out of 100 drivers “appearing to be drunk” to police officers, for example, are not under the influence of alcohol. Similarly, 40 out of 100 drivers who are weaving or who almost strike another vehicle are also legally sober.
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