Drunk Driving and Motorcycle Accidents

Drinking alcohol and driving a car, truck, or motorcycle is a deadly combination. The danger of drunk driving is clear:

• In the United States, someone is killed in a drunk driving accident every 30 minutes.
• Four out of every ten fatal car accidents involved drunk driving, according to the National Highway Traffic Administration.
• Nearly 17,000 Americans died in alcohol-related automobile crashes in 2004.
• In Michigan alone, drunk driving killed 360 people and injured another 7,400 individuals in that year.

The Dangers of Drunk Driving

The fact is that anyone who has been drinking should not try to operate a motor vehicle.

Driving a car or a motorcycle requires concentration, coordination, ability to judge distance and speed, common sense, and a concern for the safety of everyone on the road. Alcohol can impair the basic skills that are necessary to operate a motor vehicle safely.

Every type of alcohol affects the ability to drive. The same amount of alcohol – and the same potential for impairment or intoxication – results from any of these drinks:

• 12 ounce can of beer
• 5 ounce glass of wine
• 1.5 ounce shot of whiskey

Some people mistakenly believe that coffee, a cold shower, exercise, or fresh air can sober them up. This is not true. The only thing that sobers you up is time.

The Risks of Driving While Using Drugs

Drugs and medications can be as dangerous as alcohol, when mixed with driving. Illegal drugs are particularly risky, because users cannot be sure of the contents, purity, or possible effects of these substances.

Prescriptions and over-the-counter medicines also can hurt your ability to drive safely. Some cold remedies, allergy medicines, tranquilizers, and pain relievers may cause drowsiness. Diet pills and "stay awake" drugs may cause excitability or drowsiness.

Individuals have different reactions to the same drug, depending on physical condition. Combinations of drugs, or drugs with alcohol, can have unexpected effects.

Protect Yourself and Others from Drunk Driving Accidents

Never drink and drive.

If you plan on drinking, pick a designated driver, who is not going to drink, before you leave home. If you do not have a designated driver, ask someone for a ride, call a taxi, take a bus, or seek other assistance. In short, do whatever you need to do to avoid getting behind the wheel of a car or trying to operate a motorcycle if you may be impaired by alcohol or drugs.

Be a good friend, if someone you know has been drinking or using drugs. Do not let him or her try to drive. If necessary, take away the person's keys. Help your friend find a safe ride home or a place to sleep.

Never ride with anyone who has been drinking or using drugs. Be sure a driver is completely sober before you get into a car or onto the back of a motorcycle.

Recognizing Drunk Drivers on the Highway

At times, it is possible to recognize drivers who may have been drinking or using drugs. They may:

• Weave within the traffic lane
• Wander from one lane to another
• Run off the pavement
• Stop too quickly or slowly
• Drive too quickly or slowly
• Go through stop signs or other signals
• Drive on the wrong side of the road

These signs do not always mean that the driver is intoxicated, but they do require your full attention. When you are on the road near a potential drunk driver, put as much distance as possible between your motorcycle and that person’s vehicle. If you are behind the vehicle, think twice about trying to pass. If you are ahead of a drunk driver, leave room for that person to pass you.

Stay alert, because you may encounter the same vehicle further down the road. If possible, report the dangerous situation to the police. Call 911 and give the emergency operator a description, license plate number, and location of the drunk driver’s vehicle.

Michigan Laws against Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs

To help prevent needless injuries and deaths, Michigan has strengthened the laws against drunk driving. In this state, an individual can be convicted of the crime of “driving under the influence” (DUI), if that driver is:

• An adult driving a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content of .08 percent or greater
• A young person (under age 21) driving with a blood alcohol content of .02 or greater
• Anyone operating a large truck or commercial vehicle with a blood alcohol content of .04 or greater
• Anyone, regardless of age or blood alcohol content, who is unable to safely drive because of the effects of consuming alcohol or controlled substances

Michigan has tough penalties for people who drive while impaired or intoxicated by alcohol or drugs. These penalties include:

• Stiff fines
• Driver’s license suspension or revocation
• Vehicle immobilization or forfeiture
• Community service
• Probation
• Imprisonment

Get Legal Help If You Were the Victim of a Drunk Driver

If you are a motorcyclist who was injured by a driver who may have been drinking, talk with an experienced Michigan motorcycle accident lawyer immediately. Please click here to make out a simple, free, and confidential consultation form about your Michigan motorcycle accident claim now.

Protect your rights. Get the Bernstein Advantage today.