Work Truck Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Fleet Safety Video Tip: Reporting a Drunk Driver

Here is some advice from both Mothers Against Drunk Driving and the California Office of Traffic Safety.

by Staff
February 23, 2015
Fleet Safety Video Tip: Reporting a Drunk Driver

 

2 min to read


Every day drunk drivers make the decision to get behind the wheel, endangering other drivers, pedestrians and themselves. But what actions should you take after spotting a suspected impaired driver?

Ad Loading...

Here's some advice, provided by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), you may want to pass along to fleet drivers:

Ad Loading...
  • First, stay as far away from the other vehicle as possible.

  • Second, do not try to pass the vehicle or signal the driver to pull over. Doing so could result in a collision.

  • Third, take notice of the license plate number, along with details of the vehicle including make, model and color. However, make sure you don’t compromise your own safety trying to obtain this information. 

  • Finally, pull over and call 911. Give the exact location of the vehicle, including the name of the road or cross streets and the direction the vehicle is traveling. Give a complete description of the vehicle and the manner in which it is being driven. Then leave the rest up to law enforcement.

According to the California Office of Traffic Safety, the following clues can help motorists detect a drunk driver:

  • Weaving/swerving in and out of the lane

  • Weaving within the lane quite noticeably

  • Traveling at speeds much slower than the flow of traffic

  • Braking erratically or stopping in the lane

  • Sudden stops for signal lights and slow starts once they change

  • Remaining at the signal lights once they turn green – asleep at the wheel

  • Making wide turns or cutting the corner striking the curb

  • Headlights off at night or on high beams

  • Driving with the turn signals on

  • Straddling the center line of the road or lane lines

  • The driver looks intoxicated – starring straight ahead, face close to the windshield, or appears to be quite sleepy

  • Aggressive driving – speeding, tailgating and multiple lane changes or unsafe passing may be telltale signs of intoxication.

Some states are finding new ways to encourage motorists to report suspected impaired drivers. To learn about a Kentucky phone app introduced in late 2013, click here or click on the photo above.

Originally posted on Automotive Fleet

More Safety

White work truck towing a tandem-axle equipment trailer on a roadway with “Need IRP?” displayed above the vehicle.
Safetyby Kathy CloseSeptember 17, 2026

When Work Trucks Under 26,001 Pounds Need IRP Registration

Think trucks under 26,001 pounds are automatically in the clear when it comes to IRP? Not always. Learn where lighter vehicles can still run into trip permit, apportioned registration, and IFTA compliance requirements when crossing state or provincial lines.

Read More →
Dog wearing a safety harness sits in the passenger seat of a Volvo truck cab while a man demonstrates securing the pet with a restraint strap.
Safetyby News/Media ReleaseSeptember 4, 2026

Volvo Trucks Releases New Safety Recommendations for Traveling with Pets

One of the most important recommendations for professional drivers traveling with pets is to ensure pets are properly restrained while the truck is moving. Other tips are available in the new guide from Volvo Trucks North America and Center for Pet Safety.

Read More →
Fuel nozzle positioned near a vehicle’s open fuel filler as blue static electricity arcs between the nozzle and fill point.
Safetyby StaffAugust 31, 2026

API Issues Refueling Safety Guidelines

The American Petroleum Institute offers a list of safe vehicle refueling guidelines, including ways to avoid potential problems with static electricity discharges in fall, winter, and early spring.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Winter emergency kit with gloves, flashlight, snow brush, and cold-weather supplies arranged on snowy ground during falling snow.
Maintenanceby StaffAugust 26, 2026

Winter Fleet Prep: Expert Tips to Keep Vehicles Running Smoothly

Cold weather can expose weak batteries, tires, fuel systems, and maintenance gaps fast. Use this winter fleet checklist to prepare trucks and drivers before temperatures drop.

Read More →
Fleet technician inspects damage to the rear quarter panel and bumper of a white work pickup. The graphic reads “Broken Down?” with the Work Truck logo.
Maintenanceby Lauren FletcherAugust 25, 2026

When a Work Truck Breaks Down, the Job Can Stop, Too

A work truck breakdown can stop more than the vehicle. Discover how payloads, jobsites, and specialty equipment change the roadside response.

Read More →
A fleet manager at a laptop and a roadside service technician stand on opposite sides of a fading handshake, illustrating the gradual loss of trust in a fleet service partnership.
SafetyAugust 18, 2026

What Stronger Long-Term Fleet Service Partnerships Actually Require

Fleet service partnerships rarely fall apart all at once. Learn the three warning signs that trust is eroding and what fleets and providers can do before downtime, frustration, and lost revenue follow.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Promotional image announcing a partnership between TRUCE and Applause, featuring a driver’s hands on a steering wheel to represent connected fleet technology, driver safety, and mobile device management.
Safetyby News/Media ReleaseJuly 30, 2026

Applause & TRUCE Software Partner to Improve Driver Safety Through AI-Powered Telematics & Employee Performance Management

Applause has integrated TRUCE driving metrics directly into its employee-first performance and safety platform that transforms mobile devices into AI-powered telematics.

Read More →
Work Truck “Trucks, Tips & Tours” promotional graphic featuring a vocational truck approaching a crash-test vehicle, highlighting Detroit Assurance collision mitigation technology with the headline “Collision Mitigation Explained.”
Safetyby Wayne ParhamJuly 21, 2026

How Detroit Assurance with Active Brake Assist Works

Do you want to see what it is like to experience Detroit Assurance’s Active Brake Assist? In this video, Work Truck will put you in the cab to see how it all works and then hear more details from DTNA’s Mike Young.

Read More →
Black graphic with large white text reading “Stop Workplace Violence” framed by blue accent lines.
SafetyJuly 21, 2026

Get Left of Loss: A 5-Step Workplace Violence Prevention Framework for Fleet Operators

Violence risks do not stop at the driver’s door. Learn five practical steps fleets can take to spot threats early and protect workers before loss occurs.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Promotional graphic for a Utilimarc guide titled How Better Visibility Cut Speeding Violations by 48% featuring a call-to-action to download the guide.
SponsoredJuly 17, 2026

How Better Visibility Cut Speeding Violations by 48%

Fleet leaders don't need more data, they need clearer visibility into what the data is saying. This case study explores how one utility replaced speeding-event counts with a single metric — miles driven in violation — to strengthen safety and significantly reduce speeding violations.

Read More →