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The main reasons drivers drift out of their lanes

When a driver drifts out of their lane, it puts everyone in serious danger. On a multi-lane road like an interstate, it can force other drivers off of the road. On a two-lane highway with oncoming traffic, it can cause a devastating head-on collision.

Even so, odds are that you have seen drivers drifting all over in their lanes and sometimes into the wrong lane entirely. Why does something so dangerous keep happening? There are a few different reasons, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, including:

  • The driver is falling asleep at the wheel because they are simply too tired to drive. They may drift repeatedly as they doze off before finally causing an accident.
  • The driver is having a medical emergency. For instance, they could have a seizure, a stroke or a panic attack.
  • The driver has been using drugs or alcohol. They could pass out or black out on account of this impairment. Often, cars that drift all over the highway and seem to change lanes accidentally are one of the biggest red flags to law enforcement that the drivers are intoxicated.

One thing that the IIHS did not touch on is distracted driving. It could also play a serious role, as drivers may drift out of the lane accidentally while sending text messages, talking on the phone, changing the radio station, eating food or doing any number of other distracting activities.

Have you been injured in an accident with one of these drivers? If so, make sure that you are well aware of all of the legal steps you need to take in California.

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