Heading to a Bike Night? Tips to Avoid Drinking and Riding

Part of being a biker and embracing the motorcycle culture includes attending Bike Nights. Hanging out with other bikers, eating some good food, and enjoying some entertainment are some of the best parts of the riding season.

We know that Bike Nights can include alcohol, but please remember these sobering statistics (pun intended). There were 4,595 fatal crashes involving motorcycles across the U.S. in 2009. More than 84,000 were injured. Nearly one-third of the deadly crashes involved riders who had a blood alcohol content of .01 or higher. About 30% of those had a BAC of .08 or higher – above the legal limit.

5 Ways to Stay Safe on Bike Nights

1. Enjoy extra appetizers and wings instead of buying alcoholic drinks. There are many more things to enjoy at Bike Nights than just beer or liquor.
2. If you're going to have a drink while at a Bike Night, plan on having it early in the evening, and wait at least one hour after you had your drink before riding home.
3. Always wear your helmet. Remember, your bike is not a car. If you are thrown from your bike for any reason – a rabbit running across a road or pooling water in a construction zone – you have virtually nothing protecting you from deadly impact. Wearing a helmet has been proven to lower your chance of serious injury and death in a motorcycle accident. Don't take any chances.
4. Wear proper riding gear. Make sure you are visible to other drivers and riders heading to and from Bike Nights. You can read more about good riding attire from one of our previous postings.
5. Stay alert on the ride home, and allow plenty of space between you and other vehicles or motorcycles. Drive defensively. It's better to be safe than injured or killed.

By all means, have fun and enjoy being part of a very special culture. But also keep these suggestions in mind. They may help you and others stay safe while heading to your favorite local Bike Night.

Hot Bike Contest

Did you enter the Edgar Snyder & Associates' Hot Bike Contest? Voting opens today! 'Like' our Facebook Fan Page if you haven't done so already, and choose your favorite. The biker whose motorcycle receives the most "likes" will win a Flip™ HD video camera.