‘Don’t risk it the next day’ is the message as police step-up safety blitz
The motorcycle community is being warned to take extra care if we’ve been out partying the night before taking our bikes out on the road, after new figures revealed the police are more than twice as likely to breath test motorists in December than at any other time of year.
A Freedom of Information Request to police forces across England and Wales shows that 36,742 tests were carried out on riders and drivers at the roadside last December, compared with 16,267 in an average month.
The data was requested by personal breathalyser firm AlcoSense and responses were received from 38 regional forces, out of a total of 43.
Nearly one in ten (9.8%) failed the test or refused to provide a sample. Greater Manchester recorded the second highest number of roadside checks.
“December is always the peak month for roadside checks due to office parties, nights out and an overall rise in social drinking,” said Hunter Abbott, Managing Director of AlcoSense Laboratories. “Police know this, which is why roadside testing surges at this time of year.”
Research continues to show the dangers of riding with alcohol in your system. The risk of being involved in a fatal collision is around 13 times higher at the current drink limit than when sober.
Abbott added:
“People often underestimate how long alcohol stays in the body. For example, drinking four pints of medium-strong beer or four large glasses of wine in an evening can take up to 14 hours to fully clear. Many motorists are caught out the following morning without realising they’re still over the limit. Using a personal breathalyser before riding can give reassurance that you’re safe and legal.”
National statistics underline the scale of the issue. The latest Department for Transport figures show 260 people were killed in drink-related crashes across Britain – higher than a decade ago. That accounts for 16% of all road fatalities, with a further 6,310 people seriously injured.
Riders caught over the legal alcohol limit in the UK face severe consequences, including a minimum 12‑month riding ban, an unlimited fine and even up to six months in prison.
Anyone involved in causing death by careless riding while over the limit carries a maximum sentence of 14 years in jail.