In 2015, about one third of fatal motorcycle crashes involved alcohol. According to NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis (2015):
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- In Florida in 2015, impaired motorcyclists with a BAC of 0.08+ accounted for 27% of motorcycle fatalities, and impaired motorcyclists with a BAC of 0.01+ accounted for 35% of motorcycle fatalities.
- Nationally, in fatal crashes in 2015, a higher percentage of motorcycle riders had a BAC of 0.08 grams per deciliter (g/dL) or higher than any other type of motor vehicle driver. Vehicle riders involved in fatal crashes were 27% for motorcycles, 21% for passenger cars, 20% for light trucks, and 2% for large trucks.
- Nationally, the percentage with BAC 0.08 g/dL or above was highest for fatally-injured motorcycle riders among the 35–39 age group (37%), followed by the 45–49 age group at 36% and the 40–44 age group at 34%.
Studies by NHTSA, the states of Florida and Kentucky, and Australia (“Quick Tips: The Importance of Riding Unimpaired by Alcohol or Other Drugs”) (Motorcycle Safety Foundation, 2006) indicate the following:
- Having any alcohol in one’s body increases the chance of crashing by five times.
- Having a BAC greater than 0.05% increases the risk of crashing about 40-fold.
- One-fourth of all fatal alcohol-related motorcycle crashes involve motorcyclists running off the road, overturning, or falling from the motorcycle rather than striking another object.
For more information, refer to the following: