Pretty much the only thing you can control when you're driving on a Rhode Island road is your own driving behavior. No matter how cautious you are behind the wheel, a nearby driver who is negligent poses a significant safety risk.

Do you know how to recognize a distracted driver when you see one? Knowing what to be on the lookout for and what to do if you witness a suspected distracted driving situation may help get you to your destination alive and well.

Part of the problem is that many people who know the dangers of distracted driving allow themselves to be distracted while driving anyway. If you're going to the store or off to visit a friend and a car comes barreling up behind you only to smash right into the rear of your vehicle because the other driver was texting at the time, you may feel more strongly than ever about fighting against distracted driving throughout the nation.

Here's what to watch for in other drivers:

Once you recognize a distracted driver, you may only have a very minimal amount of time to get yourself safely off the possible path of collision. Below is a list of red flag signals that suggest a motorist may be distracted while driving:

• If a car is weaving left or right in its lane, the driver may be distracted.
• Have you ever seen the brake lights of a nearby car come on at times when no other cars in the vicinity appear to be using their brakes? This is often a clear sign something is not right.
• You may notice a car sort of drifting off to the side of the road when suddenly it over-corrects and careens into another lane. The driver may be highly distracted.
• Any car that speeds up and slows down erratically is enough to raise concerns about distracted driving.

The question is: What do you do when you spot a distracted driver on the road? If you can pull over safely and report the issue to local police, that may be a good idea. If not, then perhaps you can continue to move forward on the road while keeping a safe distance between you and the possible distracted driver.

If you suffer injury, you may have to take time off work and you could suffer other economic losses which can perhaps be recovered if you file a claim in a civil court.