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PSA Poster from the NHTSA
One of the common sterotypes of bikers is their love of beer. Stereotypes are greatly exaggerated myths pertaining to a particular group, but in the case of mtorcycles and beer or any other alcohol for that matter,the myths might not be so misconstrued.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association, " The percentage of legally intoxicated motorcycle riders in fatal crashes is greater than the percentage of legally intoxicated drivers of passenger cars, SUV’s or pick-up trucks."
The following is directly off the NHTSA site and should be memorized by anyone who owns a bike or knows someone who does:
• Impaired driving is one of America’s most-often-committed and deadliest crimes. Overall in 2006, more than 13,000 people were killed in highway crashes involving a driver or motorcycle operator with an illegal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher.
• The percentage of legally intoxicated motorcycle riders in fatal crashes is greater than the percentage of legally intoxicated drivers of passenger cars, SUV’s or pick-up trucks. The percentages of drivers with BAC levels .08 g/dL or higher in fatal crashes in 2006 were 27 percent for motorcycle operators, 23 percent for passenger cars, and 24 percent for light trucks. The percentage of drivers with BAC levels .08 g/dL or higher in fatal crashes was the lowest for large trucks (1%).
• Alcohol affects those skills essential to riding a motorcycle—balance and coordination. So it plays a particularly big role in motorcycle fatalities.
• In 2006, 27 percent of all fatally injured motorcycle operators had BAC levels of .08 or higher. An additional 7 percent had lower alcohol levels (BAC .01 to .07).
• Forty-one percent of the 2,007 motorcycle operators who died in single-vehicle crashes in 2006 had BAC levels of .08 or higher.
• Motorcycle operators killed in traffic crashes at night were three times more likely to have BAC levels of .08 g/dL or higher than those killed during the day (43% and 12%, respectively).
• Motorcycle operators age 30 to 49 who are killed in fatal crashes have the highest rates of alcohol involvement.
• Far too many people still don’t understand that alcohol, drugs and motorcycle riding don’t mix. Impaired riding is no accident—nor is it a victimless crime.
• Many motorcyclists believe they only hurt themselves if they are in a crash, but the pain, suffering, and financial costs often extend to family members, friends, employers, insurance companies, and others.
• Riding a motorcycle while impaired is not worth the risk of losing your life, killing an innocent person, ruining your bike or going to jail.
• The consequences of drunk riding are serious and real. The trauma and financial costs of a crash or an arrest for riding while impaired can be significant.
• Violators often face jail time, the loss of their driver’s license, higher insurance rates, and dozens of other unanticipated expenses from attorney fees, other fines and court costs, towing and repairs, lost time at work, etc. (Source: http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/planners/DrunkRidingPrevention2008/emm/fact.doc )
Many charity poker runs have their stops at bars and others serve beer and other alcoholic beverages at their final destinations. While all participants sign a waiver exempting organizers from any liability, those particpants' family members left behind do not, conceivably leaving organizers and sponsors wide open for potential lawsuits.
Now that there is a new motorcycle safety study in the works, one has to wonder what will be found regarding the mix of drinking and riding as the number of riders and exponentially, the number of accidents, increases.
If you are riding, don't drink. Even one bottle of beer can have an affect, regardless of anyone's denial of such. If you want to participate in group rides and activities, either find those that know better than to serve alcohol, don't buy those beers or wait at least two hours after your last one before turning the key.
No one wants to be in the wrong column under a safety study. Make the choice to ride sober.
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