Impaired-Riding Countermeasures
Reprinted from the January, 2008 BMW Owners News, with permission of the BMW MOA and Michael Friedle.
by, Michael Friedle
2007 SMSA Conference
This past August, the National Association of State Motorcycle Safety Administrators (SMSA) (www. smsa.org) held their annual conference in Buffalo, New York. Instructors, RiderCoaches and State Motorcycle Safety Administrators from Florida to Hawaii, and Maine to Texas gathered to discuss ideas for improving motorcycle safety for riders, as well as for the general public.
One would think that the question, “Is it REALLY a good idea to get all screwed up, and then go for a motorcycle ride?” would have a self-evident answer, but here were Safety Administrators from around the country discussing why so many riders continue to drink and ride, at an unacceptably high frequency. Attendees discussed the effects of this behavior, and what could be done to reduce both the effects and impacts (literally and figuratively!) on riders, and the general public. The attendees began by examining the motorcycle-crash problem, noting that in 2005, motorcycles represented only 2% of registered vehicles, but 10.5% of fatalities. Here are the major causes contributing to motorcycle crashes in 2005: 24% of fatally-injured riders lacked proper license-endorsements; 27% had a BAC of .08% or higher, another 7% had a BAC between .01-.07%, thirty-four percent of the fatally-injured were speeding, and the balance of motorcycle-related fatalities were attributed to the lack of other motorists’ awareness of motorcycles. According to MSF figures, alcohol is a factor in 44% of single-vehicle motorcycle fatalities, nobody else involved, just the rider. Not very good odds!
After identifying the problem, the Administrators discussed Impaired- Riding Countermeasures, programs that we could use to help reduce the problem of drinking and riding, such as existing drunk- driving campaigns (which are mostly oriented toward four-wheelers), cultural issues and identities within the riding community, and the need for some new ideas and approaches to deal with this major threat to motorcycle safety. Four complementary strategies designed to reduce impaired-riding were discussed.
First, increased communication of Public Information and Education Campaigns, using messages and delivery- methods focused exclusively on motorcycle-operators, as opposed to the general driving public. Second, appropriately designed, conducted and publicized DUI-enforcement efforts to reach and affect motorcycle operators should be promoted. Next, cooperation and interaction with other groups already engaged in impaired-driving-cessation activities, encouraging these groups to increase their focus on motorcyclists. Finally, we should consider working within existing rider-groups and motorcyclists’ activities to help establish positive, alcohol-free riding activities.
A few existing Impaired-Riding Campaigns were discussed. You might want to go to the Web sites to get a feeling for what some other states are doing about this problem, and then check what your state is currently doing; many states are doing little, or nothing at all, to deal with this problem. While the local BMW MOA chartered clubs might have little influence at the state level, perhaps we, collectively, might have some influence at the local level. Possibly your club can approach the local school districts and ask to address a school assembly, or driverseducation class, about the general problem of drinking and driving, and drinking and riding - from a motorcyclist’s point of view. Perhaps you might want to work in conjunction with the local law enforcement safety projects, or maybe groups like Mothers Against Drunk Driving-MADD (www.madd.org) or maybe have a display at a local motorcycle poker run, gathering- spot, county fair or community day. Listed below are some of the state programs that were discussed at the SMSA conference. Much of the information below comes from the SMSA Participant Manual distributed to the approximately 25 State Administrators and other Representatives who took part in the discussion at the conference.
Wisconsin has Project Green-Yellow- Red (www.gyr-riders.com). The three colors represent three levels of decision making when it comes to drinking and riding: Green equals no mixing of drinking and riding; Yellow refers to the risks of riding after drinking one or more drinks; Red refers to drinking at a level that significantly increases the risk of death or injury while operating a motorcycle. Some of the programs suggestions involve promoting alcohol-free riding events among event-promoters, programs aimed at the taverns, asking the tavern-keepers to be more self-policing of whom they serve, and to what level they will continue to serve their patrons. We discussed developing regional programs that encourage riders who have had too much to drink to leave their bikes at the tavern, and accept a safe ride home through free taxi-rides, or other means. I live near a college town that has implemented a ‘free-ride- home’ program for all patrons, not just students, who have had too much to drink. The program benefits the tavern-owners, as well as their patrons. While the taxi-ride costs the tavern owner a few bucks, the dollarcost is far less than the potential lawsuit judgment against the barkeep - and they will still have a customer tomorrow!
The AMA and NHTSA jointly developed the “Ride Straight” program, beginning with a nationwide launch in 2002, (www.ridestraight.com). This program (video and audio) of Public Service Announcements (PSA), featuring SpeedTV-personality Dave DeSpain (www.speedtv.com/windtunnel), along with printed materials, all emphasizing the risks of riding impaired. The materials are suitable for reproduction, and can be customized to include your club name or organization. This might be an area for a chartered club to help spread the word through local media outlets, at very little cost to the club. MotoSafe challenges BMW Chartered Clubs to step up to the plate, and become involved!
Connecticut’s campaign is called “Open the Throttle, Not the Bottle” and targets men, age 25-40, (www.Ride4Ever.org). Their campaign communicates the impact of alcohol, drugs, and fatigue on riding-ability - the ultimate goal is to promote changing rider-behavior to reflect safer riding practices. Connecticut’s program also includes downloadable ride-maps, digital postcards, several interesting articles, listings of alcohol-free riding-events, and submissions by riders sharing their personal riding experiences.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol has partnered with the AMA (www.ama-cycle. org) to introduce the “Ride Smart, Drive Smart” campaign (www.statepatrol.ohio.gov/motorcycle.htm). Their program has three key areas stressing the concepts of ‘Ride Trained-Ride Licensed’, ‘Ride Sober’; and making other road-users more AWARE of motorcyclists. They also provide a variety of print and media-PSA materials that they use during the riding season, issuing periodic press releases, and supply material to media events. One unique aspect of their program is an up-to-date map of Ohio motorcyclist fatality-crashes, which might help target areas where more promotional work, aimed at both riders and drivers, could be beneficial to all parties.
Minnesota has a “Motorcycle Dial- A-Ride, Inc.” program, (www.motorcycledialaride.org) which is a volunteer organization established in 1990 to educate riders to the dangers of drinking and riding, as well as to encourage the use of intervention, and to provide a safe ‘free-ride’ service as a final intervention method; this valuable service is available on weekends and holidays, beginning with the last weekend of April through the last weekend of October. Impaired riders, or more likely, their concerned friends, can call a toll-free number, and a volunteer equipped to transport the rider, passenger and bike from a public establishment to the rider’s home, or local accommodation, will be dispatched.
Back to the original question; “Is it REALLY a good idea to get all screwed up, and then go for a motorcycle ride?” If you drink, and then drive your auto, then go off the road and hit the tree, you may or may not get hurt. If you drink and then ride your motorcycle, and go off the road and hit the same tree, you WILL get hurt! The only question is; “How much will you get hurt?” Dying in a crash might not be the worst outcome! Please think long and hard before you drink and ride!
Other forms of impairment that also need to be mentioned include the use of many prescription drugs, and over-the-counter drugs (read the labels for warnings and alcohol-content), both of which may affect your balance, as well as fatigue, or riding somebody else’s ride-pace, and riding while emotionally upset. Are you really going to be concentrating on your riding skills and technique, on your traffic-management processes, after that huge argument with your SO?... when you storm out of the house to “blow off some steam on your bike”? Riding a motorcycle is a MENTAL activity that involves physical skills. If your head is not together before you even get on the bike, you are just asking for trouble. Please think about these issues before you ride, too!
Ride safe, ride often… and make a difference!
Download a copy of this article as a PDF.
Michael Friedle (#15249) began riding motorcycles in 1958. Michael became an MSF-Certified trainer in 1999 and teaches riding skills and safety courses in New York. In 2006, Michael conducted 63 classes for over 700 new riders. Michael has been an ‘MOA member for more than 30 years, and has well more than half-a-million BMW miles under his wheels. Michael has been active as an ‘MOA Board member, veteran Rally Co-chair, Ambassador, and Airhead Director. He attended the SMSA Conference as member of the Motorcycle Association of New York State as a RiderCoach, and as a representative of the BMW MOA.
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The BMW MOA Foundation’s MotoSafe is intended to present responsible viewpoints on thoughtful and safe motorcycling skills and practices; the authors, the Foundation, the BMW MOA and the Owners News do not guarantee readers’ personal safety, and can take no responsibility for readers’ application of this material.