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ALBANY, GA -- It's never too early to talk to your child about drunk driving.

In part one of our special report, "Driven to Drink," we introduced you to Ron, who pretended to be drunk. He was stopped by a couple of good Samaritans who had good intentions. However, Trooper Earl Prince with the Georgia State Patrol says that may not be the best way to go about the situation.

Instead, you can call *GSP (*477) and be connected to your local Georgia State Patrol post. Give them as much information as you can about the car and the impaired driver. Then, he said, if you can, stay with the vehicle because they will dispatch an officer and it's easier to locate that driver if they know exactly where to go.

Lt. Terron Hayes with the Dougherty County Sheriff's Office says that alcohol is getting more popular with the younger generation. In fact, 76% of elementary school students here in Dougherty County have experimented with alcohol.

Lt. Hayes says there's only so much support they can give children out in the community, but it's really up to the parents to talk with their children and make sure they understand just how alcohol can impair their judgment and actions.

For more information, you can visit the the website of the Georgia chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

POSSIBLE SIGNS OF DRUNK DRIVING:

• Straddling center lane or lane marker.
• Almost striking and object or vehicle.
• Taking extremely wide turns.
• Weaving from one side of the road to the other.
• Driving on the wrong side of the road or on the shoulder.
• Driving at very slow speed - at least 10 mph below the limit.
• Following another car too closely.
• Narrowly missing another car or object by passing too closely.
• Braking erratically.
• Driving without headlights.
• Signaling inconsistently with what they are doing.
• Stopping inappropriately in places such as at green lights and crosswalks with no pedestrians, etc.

What To Do

• Stay far behind the suspected drunk driver.
• Get out of the way and expect the unexpected.
• Wear your safety belt (and make sure that any children or other passengers have their safety belts fastened as well) - It is one of your best defenses against a drunk driver.
• Stop right away and look for a phone.
• Report suspected and impaired drivers to the state or local police by dialing 911 or *SP on your cellular phone. Give the location, direction of travel, and description of the car and driver's behavior.

What Not To Do:

• Do not try to pass the car!
• Do not try to stop the vehicle.
• Do not follow too closely. The car may stop abruptly.
• Do not attempt to act in the capacity of the police. Do not try to detain or confront the driver. Call the police and let them take care of it! 

If everyone made a commitment to give the police the information they need to find and arrest drunk drivers, it would be like every police officer had an extra set of eyes. Take a stand against drunk driving! 

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