High-Risk Combo
Alcohol impairment poses a severe risk for motorcyclists, who are significantly more likely to be involved in fatal crashes than drivers of other vehicles in the U.S., according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Alcohol affects balance, coordination, judgment and reaction time – all critical for safe motorcycle operation.
In Louisiana – and across the country – school’s let out in May. The weather warms up. So, you’re likely to see more motorcyclists on the road. Alcohol-impaired driving incidents also tend to spike during summer months, especially on weekends, due to increased consumption at holiday gatherings or special events.
Recognizing the Signs
Be on the lookout for cues that indicate motorcycle rider impairment:
- Drifting during a turn or curve
- Difficulty parking or dismounting
- Inattentive to surroundings
Why These Cues Matter
Identifying impaired riders can lead to preventive measures. When motorcyclists and those around them are aware of these indicators, there can be more proactive interventions, whether by law enforcement or defensive driving tactics, to minimize risk on the road.
In Louisiana, 97 motorcyclists died in crashes in 2023, according to the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission, and motorcyclists were involved in 1,229 injury crashes. In 2022, the fatality rate for motorcyclists was 22 times greater than the rate for passenger car occupants, according to NHTSA.
Your Role at Work
Protect your drivers – and all your employees and their family members.
Reduce liability risk exposure by sharing these motorcycle safety tips:
- Look twice before turning or changing lanes – especially at intersections
- Check blind spots and use turn signals consistently
- Keep a safe following distance; slow down and stay back
- Give motorcycles space; don’t crowd their lane or pass too closely
- Avoid distractions; even a quick glance at your phone can result in a distracted-driving crash
Safe Choices
Being a workplace safety advocate saves lives and money. Employers absorb the brunt of crash costs, including incidents involving motorcycles and impairment, regardless of whether they involve employees or family members. These costs include everything from lost productivity to higher insurance premiums.
Review motorcycle safety basics with your employees, like wearing brightly colored clothing, boots and helmets to be safer and more conspicuous on the road. Use these free resources to help us create safer roads for all:
- Safer Roads in a Safe System Approach
- Motorcycle facts and stats, social media graphics and videos
- The Importance of Riding Unimpaired by Alcohol and Other Drugs
During Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month in May, make motorcycle safety part of your impairment prevention message. You could save lives both on and off the job.
Hungry for Safety
In Louisiana, DWI cases involving young drivers ages 15 to 20 increased from 710 in 2022 to 802 in 2023, according to the Louisiana Center for Analytics & Research in Transportation Safety. That’s about one or two DWI cases involving a minor every day – despite the fact that underage drinking rates continue to decline across the country.
What does this have to do with the workplace? Well, more than you might think.
A number of organizations employ young drivers. They often work in the food service delivery industry, as rideshare drivers, parking attendants or valets. You also employ parents and caregivers who are raising young drivers and are on the lookout for ways to communicate the importance of traffic safety. You can help protect our most vulnerable road users as an active participant in Global Youth Traffic Safety Month in May. We know what’s learned at work is often carried home.
Car crashes remain the leading cause of preventable death for teenagers. Safety interventions save lives. Take time to discuss risk factors, including alcohol-impaired driving.
- About 30% of young drivers killed in crashes across the U.S. have elevated BAC levels, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Alcohol-impaired driving: Alcohol use continues to be a top risk factor for young drivers. While teens are legally prohibited from consuming alcohol, 1,345 drivers ages 20 or younger in the U.S. were involved in alcohol-impaired fatal crashes in 2022.
- Review your drug and alcohol testing policies and procedures
- Share this tragic story from KATC-3 News: Two Teens Dead in Suspected DWI Crash; Third Teen Under Arrest
Dive into this report from The Tulane Hullabaloo: Drunk Driving Fatalities Increase, Louisiana Among Highest