Now that the holiday season is here, the invitations to parties and other activities are probably starting to trickle in. If you opt to ride your motorcycle to any of these events, be sure that you have a plan to get home if you plan on drinking alcohol. Even though motorcycles are often associated with the rough and tumble party culture, mixing alcohol with these two-wheeled vehicles is often a deadly combination. The same is true when a motorcyclist is slammed into by a drunk driver.
With as little alcohol as what it would take for a person’s blood-alcohol concentration percentage to reach .01 to .04, judgement becomes impaired while the ability to criticize your own actions decreases. Even at this point, operating a motorcycle can be a deadly decision.
By the time BAC hits .05 to .07 percent, the ability to safely operate a motorcycle deteriorates even more. This is because the ability to think while performing complex actions that are required to safely drive the motorcycle has decreased, which will make it more likely that you will get into an accident.
Once a motorcyclist hits the .08 percent that is the legal limit for intoxication, the ability to complete simple tasks without errors is gone. As you are aware, operating your motorcycle takes much more than the ability to complete simple tasks.
The reasons for drivers of all vehicles to remain sober when they drive are many. For people who are struck by motorcycles and those who are on motorcycles when they are struck by other vehicles, seeking compensation is sometimes a chosen course of action.
Source: Motorcycle.com, “The Truth About Drinking And Riding,” Jeff Cobb, accessed Nov. 25, 2016