Step In To Protect Friends; Fatigue - Vermont Castings MOTORCYCLE Manual


Or Don't Ride — If you haven't
controlled your drinking, you must
control your riding.
• Leave the motorcycle — so you
won't be tempted to ride. Arrange
another way to get home.
• Wait — If you exceed your limit,
wait until your system eliminates the
alcohol and its fatiguing effects.
SteP iN tO PrOteCt
FrieNDS
People who have had too much to
drink are unable to make a responsible
decision. It is up to others to step in
and keep them from taking too great
a risk. No one wants to do this — it's
uncomfortable, embarrassing and
thankless. You are rarely thanked
for your efforts at the time. But the
alternatives are often worse.
There are several ways to keep friends
from hurting themselves:
• Arrange a safe ride — Provide
alternative ways for them to get
home.
• Slow the pace of drinking —
Involve them in other activities.
• Keep them there — Use any
excuse to keep them from getting
on their motorcycle. Serve them
food and coffee to pass the time.
Explain your concerns for their
risks of getting arrested or hurt or
hurting someone else. Take their
key, if you can.
• Get friends involved — Use peer
pressure from a group of friends to
intervene.
It helps to enlist support from others
when you decide to step in. The more
people on your side, the easier it is to be
firm and the harder it is for the rider to
resist. While you may not be thanked at
the time, you will never have to say, "If
only I had ..."

FatigUe

Riding a motorcycle is more tiring
than driving a car. On a long trip, you'll
tire sooner than you would in a car.
Avoid riding when tired. Fatigue can
affect your control of the motorcycle.
• Protect yourself from the elements
— Wind, cold, and rain make
you tire quickly. Dress warmly. A
windshield is worth its cost if you
plan to ride long distances.
• Limit your distance — Experi-
enced riders seldom try to ride more
than about six hours a day.
• Take frequent rest breaks — Stop
and get off the motorcycle at least
every two hours.
• Don't drink or use drugs —
Artificial stimulants often result in
extreme fatigue or depression when
they start to wear off. Riders are
unable to concentrate on the task at
hand.
testyourself
If you wait one hour per drink for
the alcohol to be eliminated from
your body before riding:
A. You cannot be arrested for drinking
and riding.
B. Your riding skills will not be affected.
C. Side effects from the drinking may
still remain.
D. You will be okay as long as you ride
slowly.
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Answer - page 47