Alcohol

1. Alcohol is a depressant.  It will affect your ability to Search, Evaluate and Execute
    safe driving on the road.

2. Alcohol is a major contributor to motorcycle crashes.  Almost 50% of all riders who
    are killed had been drinking.  One third of those killed had a blood alcohol level
    above the BAC limit.  The remaining had enough to “affect” their riding ability.

3. The adult male can eliminate alcohol at the rate of about 1 drink per hour.  Women
    can do it at 3/4^th the speed.  At a BAC of .05%, most people are impaired.

4. Unless you give your body time to eliminate the alcohol, drinking faster than your
    body’s ability to eliminate it will impair you.


Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC)

1. Determined by:

    a. The amount of alcohol consumed

    b. The time within which it is consumed

    c. Your body weight

2. The accepted definition of a drink is beverage alcohol that contains around 1/2
    ounce of pure ethyl alcohol.


Other Drugs

1. Both legal and illegal drugs can affect your riding ability and clarity of mind.

2. Other drugs that may impair your riding ability include marijuana, tranquilizers,
    barbiturates, antihistamines.

3. When in a situation where you know of an intoxicated individual who isn’t safe to
    ride, intervention may be necessary.  Save the life of a friend by stopping him or
    her from getting into a possible crash.


Intervention Procedures

1. Get as many people possible to help support your intervention. There is power in
    numbers and peer pressure.

2. Arrange an alternative ride for your intoxicated friend.

3. Slow the pace of drinking or substance use of your friend.

4. Delay the departure by providing other activities, food or non-alcoholic drinks to
    give his body time to get rid of the remaining drug in his/her system.

5. Hide the keys to their bike.
 

Other Impairments
 
1. Fatigue and Drowsiness.  Ride only when you’re fully alert.

2. Emotions can effect your riding ability.  Be happy, peaceful and calm when riding.

3. Racing and trick riding on the road should be left to closed tracks with proper
    instruction.  Competitive riding on the public road is not recommended.

                                                                                           <<Back   Top   Next>>