Tis the Season...Holidays are comin... 

Every Christmas, Road Safety Partnerships and Police forces across the country focus more of their attention on ‘don’t drink and drive’ publicity campaigns and enforcement activities.

But, let’s look at this from a biker’s point of view.

When we’re talking to bikers, many confess that “I might have one alcoholic drink (maybe two?), when I’m driving, but I don’t touch a drop when I’m out on the bike. From a motorcycling point of view, this is a good thing. Unfortunately, the risk of being involved in a collision is often increased because of other road users bad habits and drink driving at Christmas is a serious problem.

Be aware. Observe the ‘body language’ and driving habits of other road users, look at their eyes and watch their head movement. You can sometimes tell when they haven’t seen you, or when they fail to give you the room and the respect that you deserve on the road.

Safe control of a motorcycle or scooter takes more skill than driving a car. You are often using both hands and both feet to control your vehicle; whereas many other road user’s think they can relax with just one hand on the wheel. . . maybe this is why we say that riding a bike is more ‘involving’?

It can take more than 24 hours for alcohol to pass through your system, but remember that alcohol can dehydrate your body and this, together with tiredness, can affect your ability to ride or drive for even longer.

This Christmas, don’t drink and ride; as a vulnerable road user, you will need all of your faculties to keep an eye on everyone else on the roads.