Bikers Are Less Likely to Drink and Ride, Study Shows

A new study released by the British MCI organization revealed that motorcyclists are almost half as likely to take the risk of drinking before riding than other motorists. The statistics showed that in 2008, of the motorcycle riders tested following an accident, 1.4 percent failed a breathalyser test compared to an average of 2.7 percent for all road user casualties as a whole.

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.

“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,” Sheila Rainger, MCI Director of Communications, said in a release.

“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,” added Rainger.

The MCI also released a series of advices for the riders:

• 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.