Background

Motorcycling is a complex task requiring excellent coordination and motor skills. Alcohol greatly diminishes the coordination and motor skills needed to maneuver a motorcycle. Motorcyclists with blood alcohol concentrations (BAC) below legal limits can be impaired, which in turn affects riding and decision-making skills necessary to handle complex traffic situations. Even after a motorcyclist (or a driver) has stopped drinking, research has shown that performance errors and reaction time may increase while operators are “sobering up.” This leaves both the rider and innocent parties at risk for disaster.

Data clearly show that drinking alcohol and riding a motorcycle is a deadly combination. In 1997, 27.9 percent of motorcycle operators involved in fatal motorcycle crashes had a BAC of .10 or higher. Also in 1997, the trend continued that motorcycle operators in fatal crashes had higher intoxication rates than any other types of drivers. The percentage of alcohol-related motorcycle operator fatalities dropped between 1996 and 1997.

Solutions

Public Education and Information
Awareness programs, though effective, are slow to change behaviors. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) sponsored research to learn why motorcyclists ride after drinking and what messages would have the greatest impact on motorcyclists. One of the most important findings was that traditional impaired driving messages, which target automobile drivers, have no impact on motorcycle operators. (Remember: Motorcyclists ride motorcycles; they don’t drive motorcycles.) Unless messages target motorcyclists specifically, the messages have no impact.

As part of the comprehensive, research-based motorcycle rider education curriculum, the Motorcycle Safety Foundation developed and produced Riding Straight, a module used in rider training courses. Riding Straight represents an effort to discourage impaired motorcycle operation (either by alcohol or other drugs) by reinforcing a rider’s understanding of the negative consequences of impaired riding. The program serves as the basis for several stand-alone state and military programs to prevent impaired riding. To obtain a copy of the Riding Straight materials contact the Motorcycle Safety Foundation at (714) 727-3227.

Law Enforcement

In motorcycling, enforcing impaired driving laws can be challenging. For example, the detection cues that law enforcement officers use to detect impaired passenger car operators are different than those used to detect impaired motorcyclists. NHTSA conducted research to identify and develop a set of behavioral cues associated with impaired motorcycle riding. Law enforcement officers on patrol can use these cues as a basis for stopping and investigating a suspected case of riding while impaired.

Motorcycle DWI Detection Guide Excellent Predictors Drifting during a turn or curve Trouble with dismount Trouble with balance at a stop Turning problems (e.g., unsteady sudden corrections, late braking, improper lean angle) Inattentive to surroundings Inappropriate or unusual behavior (e.g., carrying or dropping object, urinating at roadside, disorderly conduct, etc.) Weaving Good Predictors Erratic movement while going straight Operating without lights at night Recklessness Following too closely Evasion Wrong way

A set of 13 behavioral cues associated with impaired motorcycle riding were identified from interviews with expert law enforcement officers, archival research of almost 1,000 motorcycle driving-while-intoxicated (DWI) arrest reports, observed behavior collected during actual “ride alongs” with law enforcement, and two larger field studies. These cues were grouped into two categories, “Excellent Predictors,” those cues with a probability of impairment of 50 percent or more and “Good Predictors,” those cues with a probability of impairment of 30-49 percent.

To assist law enforcement officers, NHTSA developed The Detection of DWI Motorcyclists, a brochure with a pocket card that explains each of the cues. Accompanying the print material is a 12-minute video suitable for law enforcement roll-call training further explaining each cue. To order these materials contact NHTSA’s Office of Communications and Outreach, Media and Marketing Division, NTS-21, 400 Seventh Street, SW, Washington, DC 20590, fax: (202) 493-2062.

Partnering To Reduce Impaired Riding

In today’s world of doing more with less, addressing the impaired riding issue seems like another serving on an already-full plate. However, there is something that can be done without adding to the workload. The Ohio motorcycle safety program recently completed a project based upon the very successful selective Traffic Enforcement Program (sTEP) designed to increase seat belt use. Motorcycle Ohio brought together members of law enforcement, riding groups, and members of the media to increase attention to impaired riding in Ohio. Motorcycle Ohio staff provided training to state and local law enforcement agencies to enable them to detect impaired motorcyclists in targeted enforcement efforts. Law enforcement officers also received media training to publicize the dangers of riding impaired and to garner attention to the increased enforcement efforts. Motorcycle Ohio staff also met with judges and prosecutors in order to discuss the impaired motorcyclist problem. Working with restaurant and bar owners, the staff provided public information materials to motorcyclists visiting their establishments. Finally, Motorcycle Ohio staff presented impaired riding demonstrations to a variety of motorcycling organization throughout the state. Preliminary results are promising and an evaluation of the program will be available soon.

Challenges

Efforts to increase traffic safety professionals’ awareness of the impaired riding problem are beginning to show some progress, but it is not at the same pace as impaired driving program success. The proportion of motorcyclists with a BAC of .10 or higher in fatal crashes is beginning to rise after decreases from 1989 to 1994. These numbers are a great contrast to the decreases in automobile drivers involved in fatal crashes. The proportion of drivers involved in fatal crashes has steadily fallen except for a slight increase in 1990.

The graph below shows that the proportion of motorcycle operators involved in fatal crashes with a BAC of .10 or higher has fallen from 38.6 percent in 1991 to 30.3 in 1996 (which is slightly higher than the low of 29 percent in 1992). However, these numbers are still too high when compared to the success in reducing the proportion of drivers involved in fatal crashes with a BAC of .10 or higher.

However, more needs to be accomplished. Traffic safety professionals can play an important role in addressing impaired riding issues. With small efforts, huge dividends can be realized. By focusing on all aspects of alcohol-related traffic fatalities we can reach our goal of 11,000 by 2005.

For more motorcycle safety information contact

NHTSA’s Safety Countermeasures Division, NTS-15,

400 Seventh Street, SW, Washington, DC 20590,

phone: (202) 366-1739, fax: (202) 366-7721,

or visit NHTSA’s Web site (www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury).