I’m mixing up something other than a cocktail today. Don’t worry, I’ll be back with 5:00 Fridays but I wanted to share an experience we had last night. Fasten your seatbelt for a brush with irony.
Mac Daddy and I had taken the boys to a Durham Bulls baseball game. It was blazing hot. We ate ballpark junk. We drank several bottles of water, and Mac Daddy and I shared a beer (Foothills Pilot Mountain pale ale – it was delicious). We let the boys buy a pennant for their rooms, we finished up our peanuts, threw away our trash, and headed for home at the top of the ninth. Everyone was sweaty, beat, and bummed that the Bulls lost. Mac Daddy carried Deal to the car, and Bird dragged his feet as if anvils were attached to his heels. We followed the forlorn parade to the parking lot and happily eased onto the highway without facing any traffic.
Halfway home Mac Daddy noticed a small SUV in front of us swerving. He asked me if I had seen the car veering this way and that. I hadn’t but tuned in right away. The boys were too tired to take note. We watched this car swerve onto the left shoulder, overcompensate, cross the dotted yellow line, swerve onto the right shoulder, wiggle around in a jagged line, drive smack down the middle of the road, and swerve again. It was doing its very own highway do si do. Cars all around started to brake, giving the swerving SUV ample room. Not every drunk driver is this blatantly reckless. It’s important you know how to spot a drunk driver. Mac Daddy steered clear of this car that was practically making figure eights on the freeway. We watched some near misses and snuck a look at the boys to ensure they were calm and safe.
We were acting calmer than we felt.
That car was a weapon on the road with a drunk driver pulling the trigger.
We didn’t want to get close enough to catch the license plate number or make and model of the car. We were on a stretch of highway with no exit and no way around this dangerous drunk driver in front of us. Our kids were in the car, and I was pissed. I clucked about the irresponsibility of his (or her) actions and kept my bitching clean, lest I scare the boys with words they’ve never heard their mommy mutter. I have zero tolerance for drunk driving and seem to live in a state with some of the most lax penalties. I don’t know this for sure, but it sure does seem this way. As we watched this car swerve uncontrollably, we knew we had to do something.
I called 911.
Don’t f*#@ with a mom when her children are in harm’s way. MADD is so very aptly named.
I reported the drunk driver and gave the dispatcher our whereabouts. We saw the car exit and by the grace of a well placed streetlight, we were able to make out the license plate number. The 911 dispatcher assured us we did the right thing and sent the police right away. By this point the boys were anxious. Bird wanted to sleep with me. Deal’s eyes were brimming with fear. We told them over and over again that we were safe. They had lots of questions. They worried about the one beer we shared. They wondered what would happen to that driver. They were scared that someone might get hurt. They asked if that driver could kill someone.
Yes.
We answered honestly.
It wasn’t the way we wanted to end our family night out. This drunk driver was a buzz kill, if you will. We were thankful to be home safely. We were hopeful no one would be hurt. We were proud we did the right thing. In case you’re wondering, here’s what you do if you spot a drunk driver.
Some stats to ponder from MADD:
- An average drunk driver has driven drunk 87 times before first arrest.
- One in three people will be involved in an alcohol-related crash in their lifetime.
- Car crashes are the leading cause of death for teens and one out of three of those is alcohol related.
- Every minute, one person is injured from an alcohol-related crash.
- This year, 10,839 people will die in drunk-driving crashes – one every 50 minutes.
WOW. I am so mad that this happened to you. So unacceptable.
A few years ago I worked as a 911 dispatcher and realized how INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT it is to report a suspected drunk driver!!! Even if you aren’t sure, don’t make excuses (it was just a little swerving, maybe he’s just tired, maybe she’s just talking on the cell phone, maybe it was just one drink). Either way, dangerous drivers should reported pronto so an accident can be avoided. If the person isn’t DUI or DWI the cops won’t be upset or mad so never worry about making a mistake.
Unfortunately I also heard a lot of ‘too late’ calls – the calls reporting an accident where inevitably a driver had indeed been drinking. All too often there was a fatality involved. One call included a minivan and the heartbreaking realization that a young mother and her four children were all killed.
Unacceptable.
I’m glad you called, I’m glad you stayed a safe distance and I’m glad you were able to get the license plate. Hopefully this person was found and taken into custody if indeed they were drunk. Good job. Your kids will remember this and will be ready to report when they are older and, even better, will likely remember to never, ever drink and drive. Good job.
1) Very glad you called. Thank you.
2) In that circumstance, drivers can pull over and wait a few minutes. It won’t keep other drivers safe but will keep you and yours safe.
3) Always call 9-1-1 and not the State Highway Patrol (when on an interstate). 9-1-1 will route you to the closest emergency communications center. In many states, you can call the State Highway Patrol at *SP or something similar. Trouble is there are fewer state troopers patrolling interstates in NC than you’d think. When I worked briefly in public safety, there was rarely a state trooper who’d respond faster than a local cop or sheriff.