|Explanations of the 24 driving cues

Problems in Maintaining Proper Lane Position

Speed and Breaking Problems

Vigilance Problems

Judgement Problems

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|Problems in Maintaining Proper Lane Position

Maintaining proper lane position can be a difficult task for an impaired
driver. For example, we have all seen vehicles weaving before. Weaving is
when the vehicle alternately moves toward one side of the lane and then
the other. The pattern of lateral movement can be fairly regular, as one
steering correction is closely followed by another. In extreme cases, the
vehicle's wheels even cross the lane lines before a correction is made.
You might even observe a vehicle straddling a center or lane line. That
is, the vehicle is moving straight ahead with either the right or left tires
on the wrong side of the lane line or markers.

Weaving

Drifting is when a vehicle is moving in a generally straight line, but
at a slight angle to the lane. The driver might correct his or her course
as the vehicle approaches a lane line or other boundary, or fail to correct
until after a boundary has been crossed. In extreme cases, the driver fails
to correct in time to avoid a collision.

Drifting

Course corrections can be gradual or abrupt. For example, you might observe
a vehicle to swerve, making an abrupt turn away from a generally straight
course, when a driver realizes that he or she has drifted out of proper
lane position, or to avoid a previously-unnoticed hazard.

Swerving

A related DWI cue is almost striking a vehicle or other object. You might
observe a vehicle, either at slow speeds or moving with traffic, to pass
unusually close to a sign, barrier, building, or other object. This cue
also includes almost striking another vehicle, either moving or parked,
and causing another vehicle to maneuver to avoid a collision.

Turning with a wide radius, or drifting during a curve, is the final
cue in this category of driver behaviors. A vehicle appears to drift to
the outside of the lane, or into another lane, through the curve or while
turning a corner. Watch for this cue and stop the driver when you see it.
Many alcohol-involved crashes are caused by an expanding turn radius, or
drifting out of lane position during a curve.

Turning with a Wide Radius

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|Speed and Braking Problems

The research showed that braking properly can be a difficult task for
an impaired driver. For example, there is a good chance the driver is DWI
if you observe any type of stopping problem. Stopping problems include,

Stopping too far from a curb or at an inappropriate angle,Stopping too short or beyond a limit line, andJerky or abrupt stops.Stopping Beyond a Limit Line

Impaired drivers also can experience difficulty maintaining an appropriate
speed. There is a good chance the driver is DWI if you observe a vehicle
to,

Accelerate or decelerate rapidly for no apparent reason,Vary its speed, alternating between speeding up and slowing down, or
  beDriven at a speed that is ten miles per hour or more under the limit.Back to Top
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|Vigilance Problems

Vigilance concerns a person's ability to pay attention to a task or notice
changes in surroundings. A driver whose vigilance has been impaired by alcohol
might forget to turn his or her headlights on when required. Similarly,
impaired drivers often forget to signal a turn or lane change, or their
signal is inconsistent with their maneuver, for example, signaling left,
but turning right.

Signaling Inconsistent with
Driving Actions

Alcohol-impaired vigilance also results in motorists driving into opposing
or crossing traffic, and turning in front of oncoming vehicles with insufficient
headway.

Driving into Opposing or Crossing
Traffic

Driving is a complex task that requires accurate information about surrounding
traffic conditions. Failing to yield the right of way and driving the wrong
way on a one way street are dangerous examples of vigilance problems.

A driver whose vigilance has been impaired by alcohol also might respond
more slowly than normal to a change in a traffic signal. For example, the
vehicle might remain stopped for an unusually long period of time after
the signal has turned green. Similarly, an impaired driver might be unusually
slow to respond to an officer's lights, siren, or hand signals.

The most extreme DWI cue in the category of vigilance problems is to
find a vehicle stopped in a lane for no apparent reason. Sometimes when
you observe this behavior the driver will be just lost or confused, but
more than half of the time the driver will be DWI-maybe even asleep at the
wheel.

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|Judgment Problems

Operating a motor vehicle requires continuous decision-making by the
driver. Unfortunately, judgment abilities can be affected by even small
amounts of alcohol. For example, alcohol-impaired judgment can cause a driver
to follow another vehicle too closely, providing an unsafe stopping distance.

Alcohol-impaired judgment also can result in a driver taking risks or
endangering others. If you observe a vehicle to make improper or unsafe
lane changes, either frequently or abruptly, or with apparent disregard
for other vehicles, there is a good chance the driver's judgment has been
impaired by alcohol.

Similarly, impaired judgment can cause a driver to turn improperly. For
example, misjudgments about speed and the roadway can cause a driver to
take a turn too fast, or to make sudden corrections during the maneuver.
These corrections can appear to the observer as jerky or sharp vehicle movements
during the turn.

Alcohol-impaired judgment can affect the full range of driver behaviors.
For example, the research found that impaired drivers are less inhibited
about making illegal turns than unimpaired drivers.

Turning Illegally

Driving on other than the designated roadway is another cue exhibited
by alcohol-impaired drivers. Examples include driving at the edge of the
roadway, on the shoulder, off the roadway entirely, and straight through
turn-only lanes.

In some cases, impaired drivers stop inappropriately in response to an
officer, either abruptly as if they had been startled, or in an illegal
or dangerous manner.

In fact, the research has shown that there is a good chance a driver
is DWI if you observe the person to exhibit any inappropriate or unusual
behavior. Unusual behavior includes throwing something from the vehicle,
drinking in the vehicle, urinating at the roadside, arguing with another
motorist, or otherwise being disorderly. If you observe inappropriate or
unusual behavior, there is a good probability that the driver is DWI.

Driving on Other than the
Designated Roadway

The final cue is actually one or more of a set of indicators related
to the personal behavior or appearance of a driver. These indicators include,
gripping the steering wheel tightly, driving with one's face close to the
windshield, slouching in the seat, and staring straight ahead with eyes
fixed. Some officers routinely scrutinize the faces of drivers in oncoming
traffic, looking for the indicators of impairment. If you observe a driver
who appears to be impaired, the research showed that there is an excellent
probability that you are correct in your judgment.

Appearing to be Impaired

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