Drinking and riding ...

[Nik S]

RIDERS LESS LIKELY TO RISK DRINKING AND RIDING

FOR IMMEDIATE PUBLICATION: 23RD November 2009
While one in six deaths on our roads are caused by drivers over the legal alcohol limit, motorcyclists are half as likely as other motorists to take the risk of drinking before riding, according to the MCI, marking the start of Road Safety Week 2009.

The latest analysis of drink-drive statistics show that in 2008, of the motorcycle riders tested following an accident, 1.4 per cent failed a breathalyser test compared to an average of 2.7 per cent for all road user casualties as a whole).

The MCI is supporting Road Safety Week 2009’s call to all road users to commit to not drink even a drop of alcohol before driving, nor consume any other illegal drug, to help reduce the number of accidents and casualties on British roads.

For road users as a whole, the group most likely to drink and drive were those under 17, with 11.8 per cent of young people in this age band failing the test. Only 1.2 per cent of these positive tests were given by young motorcyclists.

Motorcyclists aged between 20 and 24 were most likely to fail a breath test, with 2.4 per cent of tests taken by riders in this age band positive for alcohol. However, this figure is still less than half that of the average for all road users between 20 and 24, of whom 5 per cent gave a breath test positive for alcohol.

In 2007, at least 15,935 people in the UK were killed or hurt by drink and drug-drivers. That’s: 1,328 people every month, 306 people every week, 44 people every day, 2 people every hour.

In 2007, 478 people were killed by drivers over the drink-drive limit in the UK. Women are much less likely than men to cause drink drive crashes. However, nearly a third of the casualties in drink drive crashes are women; often passengers in cars driven by young men.Nearly one in six convicted drink-drivers are caught the morning after.

The MCI advises:-

* Never drink any amount of alcohol if you’re riding. You don’t have to be over the limit for your skills to be impaired.

* Never drink late at night if you’re riding early the next morning. If you get caught out later than you thought, take the bus or go pillion next morning.

* Don’t let mates drink and ride.

* Don’t hassle anyone into accepting a drink they don’t want.

Sheila Rainger, MCI Director of Communications, said, “The demands of riding a motorcycle are greater than those of driving a car and it is good to see the majority of motorcyclists recognizing this fact by refusing to mix drinking and riding.

“However, there is no room for complacency. As vulnerable road users, motorcyclists need to stay sharp. The MCI is backing the Road Safety Week 2009 call to all riders to commit to ‘not a drop, not a drag’ before starting the engine, and as Christmas party season approaches, urging riders to be aware that alcohol can stay in your system well into the morning after.”

END
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[Anne]

This doesn't really surprise me that much as we generally think we need to be more aware of whats going on because car drivers aren't as aware of us.

[MAC]

Originally Posted by Anne

This doesn't really surprise me that much as we generally think we need to be more aware of whats going on because car drivers aren't as aware of us of much beyond the 3 ft in front of their bonnet.

Corrected for you

Saw a great one today, young girl driving a car with her tom tom stuck at eye level just slightly off to the left of her direct view ahead. Leaving her with a huge blind spot.

[burty]

Originally Posted by Nik S

For road users as a whole, the group most likely to drink and drive were those under 17, with 11.8 per cent of young people in this age band failing the test. Only 1.2 per cent of these positive tests were given by young motorcyclists.

Hmm. that's an interesting statement.

What are these under 17 year olds driving if only 1.2 percent of the 11.8 percent of the young people failing the test were motorcyclists?

[ink ink]

Originally Posted by Anne

This doesn't really surprise me that much as we generally think we need to be more aware of whats going on because car drivers aren't as aware of us.

The way I see it is: cars are everyday necessary transport, used for everything by everybody, including returning from the pub and commuting in the morning while still half pissed.

A large proportion of bikes are only used for deliberate "biking," or weekend pleasure trips, which (often I hope) don't involve drink.

[JBL]

Originally Posted by ink ink

A large proportion of bikes are only used for deliberate "biking," or weekend pleasure trips, which (often I hope) don't involve drink.

I am still surprised they've found bikers over the limit. I don't even drink 1/2 pint when I know I'll take the wheel let alone when i'm on the bike.
I found that my resistance to typsiness has declined with age...

[crashtest]

I ride back from the pub quite often.

[ink ink]

Originally Posted by crashtest

I ride back from the pub quite often.

More often than you ride to it?

[Olly]

I ride MILES better with 3 or 4 pints inside me.

[a_morti]

I'll fairly regularly have a pint and ride home. I'll switch to Beck's blue after the first one, if not lemonade.

I'm unlikely to commit to 'not a drop, not a drag'.

[Tomcat]

Originally Posted by Olly

I ride MILES better with 3 or 4 pints inside me.

Everyone rides better than you with 3 or 4 pints inside them.

[Olly]

Originally Posted by Tomcat

Everyone rides better than you with 3 or 4 pints inside them.

Maybe I should have had an extra couple of pints before each race, then

[crashtest]

Originally Posted by ink ink

More often than you ride to it?

No..but I have left the bike there once or twice.

[Ant1981]

Originally Posted by Anne

This doesn't really surprise me that much as we generally think we need to be more aware of whats going on because car drivers aren't as aware of us in their blindspots if we're sat next to them in the same lane.

[Bluntly]

I've only ever once had a drink and ridden, that was a scooter, can't say the same about driving, but not for many years.

I can't see the point of publishing these statistics, after all you can read anything into stats if you try hard enough....

9 out of 10 participants think gang rape is great...