Driving and drinking too much alcohol is a criminal offence. But did you know that you are not allowed to drive any vehicle if you have drunk too much alcohol? Cycling after the use of alcohol is also prohibited by law. If you are cycling, you are considered a driver by law. Do you have more than 0.54 per mille alcohol – about 2 glasses of alcoholic drinks – in your blood? Then you can a risk a fine of 200 euros.
In this blog you can read more about the research into alcohol use on electric bicycles and why awareness is needed.
Stella Cycling investigates alcohol use on the e-bike
Whopping one in five e-bikers in the Netherlands easily get on an electric bicycle, after several alcoholic refreshments. This is apparent from the research of Stella Cycling. It is striking in this study that men in particular use an e-bike more often than women (62%) after drinking alcohol.
In North Brabant in particular, the e-bike is used the most in percentage terms after an evening in the pub. On the other hand, South Holland is the province where residents use the e-bike the least after drinking alcohol.
What are the consequences of driving your e-bike with alcohol?
From a formal point of view, it is forbidden to drive your (electric) bicycle if you have been drinking alcohol. Alcohol can lead to dangerous driving. This can lead to dangerous situations for yourself and for other road users. Endangering other road users in traffic or causing an accident resulting in death or injury is punishable by law.
When you drive a fast electric bicycle, also called a speed pedelec, then do the rules apply to mopeds or mopeds. If you are caught on your speed pedelec, you run the risk of a higher fine and taking your driver’s license may be one of the consequences.
Safe Traffic in the Netherlands calls for awareness
The number of alcohol-related deaths in traffic has more than doubled. The use of drugs in traffic is also increasing. The exact causes of this increase are unclear.
The director of Safe Traffic in the Netherlands – Evert-Jan Hulshof – calls for awareness. After you consume alcohol, your responsiveness deteriorates and your alertness decreases. Make it easy on yourself and other road users by adhering to the zero percent alcohol policy.
Tips to get on the road safely
In addition to the zero percent alcohol rule if you are a driver, it is also advisable to take a number of measures yourself to safely jump on the electric bicycle. For example, always make sure that your lighting is working. Is your lighting empty? Then take a look at the rechargeable lights, such as the AXA Greenline 1-Led or the AXA Greenline 30 lux usb.
Wearing a helmet – make sure you buy the right size – also prevents head injuries when falling. For example, purchase the Abus Pedelec 2.0 ACE on, including LED taillight for the courtesy
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