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SOBERING FACTS ABOUT DRINKING AND RIDING
Riders Revving Up This Spring Are Reminded To Open the Throttle, Not the Bottle

Newington, Conn./April 13, 2004 - Spring is here and cabin-fevered motorcycle enthusiasts are already revving up and hitting the road. The Connecticut Department of Transportation's Division of Highway Safety reminds riders to be safe and to keep the following facts in mind.

Impairment-related Motorcycle Crashes/Fatalities:

• In Connecticut in 2002, nearly half (40%) of all motorcycle fatalities involved alcohol.
• Alcohol-related motorcycle crashes and fatalities in Connecticut occur most frequently in New Haven and Windham counties.
• Injuries occur in 90% of all alcohol-related motorcycle crashes.
• 58% of alcohol-related motorcycle fatalities occur in the 30 to 39 age group.
• Approximately 2,500 motorcyclists are killed in alcohol-related crashes every year nationwide, while 50,000 motorcyclists are injured.
• Impaired motorcyclists involved in crashes are more likely to be speeding than those not drinking.

Impairment:

• Alcohol is a depressant and slows down bodily functions - both mental and physical.
• One of the most serious effects of alcohol is that it prevents one from correctly judging how one is functioning. An intoxicated person may be performing very poorly but may think he or she is functioning perfectly.
• Alcohol affects riding in the following ways: the ability to divide attention between searching the environment and operating the motorcycle, the ability to identify potential hazards and the ability to make decisions (e.g., whether to pass a vehicle or give way to another vehicle).
• Impairment doesn't only include alcohol. It also includes illegal prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs and fatigue.
• In Connecticut, you could be charged with driving under the influence of prescription or over-the-counter medications.

Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC):

• The legal intoxication level in Connecticut is .08.
• In Connecticut if you're under 21, a BAC of just .02 is your minimum. That's just one beer for many people.
• In Connecticut, you can still be convicted even if your BAC is below the legal limit.
• In Connecticut in 2002, 19% of total motorcycle driver fatalities were "legally intoxicated" with a BAC of .08 or higher.
• At a BAC of .05, most people become impaired and riding performance begins to suffer.
• At a BAC of .08 percent to .10 percent, most people can no longer function normally and are considered legally intoxicated.
• Laboratory and on-road research shows the vast majority of drivers, even "experienced drinkers," are significantly impaired at .08 with regard to critical driving tasks such as braking, steering, changing lanes, divided attention tasks and judgment.

Consequences:

• The BAC among motorcycle fatalities is typically highest on weekends and during warmer months (May and June).
• Penalties one can expect if caught drinking and riding include license suspension, fines, insurance increases, jail, community service and financial loss.

*According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Connecticut Department of Transportation.

For more information, please visit www.ride4ever.org.