How can a driver recognize a distracted driver?

Recognizing a distracted driver predominantly involves observing erratic driving patterns. Distracted drivers may exhibit behaviors such as swerving between lanes, abrupt stops, inconsistent speed, or failure to respond to traffic signals and signs in a timely manner. These patterns suggest a lack of full attention to the driving task, often because the driver is engaged in activities that divert their focus, such as texting, talking on the phone, or adjusting controls inside the vehicle.

Monitoring a driver's use of turn signals, their speed, or the model of their vehicle does not reliably indicate distraction. For example, a driver could be using their turn signals correctly while still being distracted, and driving at a normal speed does not imply full attention to the road. Similarly, a vehicle's model has no correlation with the attentiveness of the driver. Therefore, erratic driving is the most telling sign that someone may be distracted and poses a potential risk on the road.