7
TWO
Don’t Drink and Ride
e safest and most responsible choice is to
not drink and ride. Your ability to think
clearly and ride safely is aected by as
little as one drink. Once you start, your
judgment is aected and your ability to
say “no” gets weaker.
If you plan on drinking, leave your
motorcycle at home and nd other
transportation so you won’t be tempted to
ride impaired. Or, call ahead to where you plan
on drinking and ask if there is a secure place for
you to store your motorcycle overnight so you can nd an
alternative way home – such as a taxi or designated driver.
ere are no shortcuts to removing alcohol from your body. None of the
“remedies” you may have heard about – cold showers, hot coee, or physical
exercise – will remove alcohol faster. e only proven remedy to removing alcohol
is time. Remember – your body can process about one drink an hour.
Other Impairing Drugs and Riding
Marijuana and other cannabis products slow your reaction time, interfere with
your concentration, impact your perception of time and distance and aect your
ability to ride safely. Its negative eects are most evident when individuals handling
multiple tasks are confronted with something unexpected. Your response and
performance at these times need to be quick and accurate.
Many prescription, over-the-counter and illegal drugs may also aect your ability to
ride safely. If you are not sure if it is safe to take a drug and ride, ask your doctor or
pharmacist about any side eects.
Never drink alcohol while you are taking other drugs. ese drugs could multiply
the eects of alcohol or have additional eects of their own. ese eects not only
reduce your ability to operate your motorcycle, but could cause serious health
problems, even death.
Combining drinking and drug use with the operation of a motor vehicle can have
fatal consequences. Motorcyclists are more likely than automobile drivers to be
killed or severely injured in crashes.
Section Two
Factors Affecting Rider Performance
Riding a motorcycle demands your full attention. Responsible riders pay
attention to the riding environment, identify potential hazards, look for escape
routes and make good decisions.
Your ability to trust your judgment and to be aware of changing conditions or
potential hazards is inuenced by how mentally t and alert you are.
Alcohol is a major contributor to motorcycle crashes, particularly fatal crashes.
Studies show that, in Oregon, 46% of all riders killed in motorcycle crashes
during 2021 had been drinking.
2
Riding “under the inuence” of alcohol or other
drugs poses physical and legal hazards for every rider.
Effects of Alcohol and other Impairing Drugs
It is important to understand the eect of alcohol, marijuana and other drugs to
see that they don’t mix with riding. Alcohol and other drugs impair your:
Judgment – Alcohol and other impairing drugs aect those areas of your brain
that control judgment. You may not be able to make good decisions about trac
conditions or how you can protect yourself.
Vision – Alcohol and certain types of drugs can blur your vision, slow your
ability to focus and cause double vision.
Reaction Time – Alcohol and other impairing drugs slow your ability to process
information and impact your ability to react quickly to a situation.
2 National Center for Statistics and Analysis (2023, June). Motorcycles: 2021
data (Trac Safety Facts. Report No. DOT HS 813 112). Washington, DC:
National Highway Trac Safety Administration.
Riding under the influence of alcohol or other drugs
poses physical and legal hazards for every rider.