Aug 27th “The bottle and the throttle don’t mix.”

RIDE SOBER OR GET PULLED OVER – Two Weeks Before and Through Labor Day

RIDE SOBER OR GET PULLED OVER

Ride Sober or Get Pulled Over during the two weeks leading up to Labor Day targets motorcyclists who ride when they have been drinking.

The campaign focus on the end of riding season for much of the US. As motorcyclists head into the extended Labor Day weekend, the campaign aims to decrease drunk riding. The long, warm days of summer begin to fade, and riding season winds down. For some, it’s their last long, summer ride. For too many who choose to ride while drinking, it will be their last ride forever.

The bottle and the throttle don’t mix.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says 25% of motorcycle riders killed in crashes are drunk. A rider is considered intoxicated when their blood alcohol limit reaches or exceeds .08.

However, NHTSA says many alcohol-related motorcycle crashes are caused by riders who are slightly under the .08 limit. Though they’ve had less than the legal limit, it’s still enough to let booze to overwhelm their usual safety cautiousness. Hence, they end up pushing themselves and their machines past safe limits.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, this is all it takes to affect riders:

.02 – It becomes difficult to perform two tasks at the same time.
.05 – Tracking moving objects becomes difficult and response time to emergency situations is reduced.
.08 – Riders lose concentration and perception of road conditions.
.10 – Braking appropriately becomes difficult.

HOW TO OBSERVE RIDE SOBER OR GET PULLED OVER

Before drinking, plan a sober ride home. If you see a drunk rider on the road, call law enforcement immediately. When you are hosting a group ride, make sure food and non-alcoholic drinks are served. Provide drinking riders with safe rides home. Assure them their motorcycles will be secure, and they will get a return ride to their bike when they are sober.

RIDE SOBER OR GET PULLED OVER HISTORY

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration sponsors Ride Sober or Get Pulled Over annually. The program singularly targets motorcyclists and is part of a regularly occurring crackdown on drunk driving organized. Other Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaigns targeting four-wheel vehicle drivers are: