All this is fine, but there is a downside, and it is a big one. The downside is alcohol consumption. The culture of riding and drinking in some motorcycle groups is lethal, as has been widely evidenced in motorcycle accident statistics.
Are a couple of beers such a problem for bikers?
Alcohol consumption is pure folly when you ride a motorcycle. There is no safe BAC (blood alcohol concentration) limit. A rider's judgment starts being reduced with a BAC as low as 0.01 to 0.04 percent, way below the legal limit of 0.08. With a BAC of 0.05 percent or more, thinking and reasoning powers further diminish, as well as the ability to maintain the complex skills, balance and reaction speed required when riding. To make matters worse, many bikers experience enhanced thrills and a decreased sense of inhibition after having had a few beers. All this might be happening with a BAC still below the legal limit.
Are the consequences that bad?
According to the National Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), motorcyclists involved in fatal crashes are 2.5 times more likely to have consumed alcohol than passenger vehicle drivers. About 46 percent of riders killed in accidents had alcohol in their systems at the time of the crash. With the exception of 2009, when fatal bike crashes decreased, there has been a steady increase of fatal accidents involving motorcyclists every year, even when the fatality rate of motorists in other vehicles kept decreasing.
The Daytona Beach attorneys of Johnson & Gilbert PA take your safety seriously. If you have been hurt in a car or motorcycle accident, call today toll free at (800) 556-8890 and locally at (386) 673-4412 or fill out the form on this page for a free consultation.