RIDE SAFE

Info from Arlen

This month’s discussion is about riding while feeling tired and fatigued, and how that may affect your (and others’) safety.

Edition #9.  Fatigue – It Can Affect Your Safety

     In early July, I undertook the Iron Butt Association’s “Saddle Sore 1000” ride, with its requirement of riding 1000 miles in less than 24 hours.  Prior to that, the longest riding mileage day I’d had was just 600 miles.  That extra 400 miles turned out to be a BIG difference, and the fatigue – both physical and mental – that I experienced was more than what I would have predicted.

     In my 30 years of General Aviation piloting, I knew a lot of airline guys, and I heard frequently about their strict restrictions regarding how much and how often they could fly.  Calling out of work due to fatigue was never criticized, and in fact was often celebrated…..all in the name of enhancing safety.

     Long-haul truckers have a rule about not accumulating more than 11 hours of driving time per day, and they may not drive at all after being on duty for 14 hours.

     Two things happened to me on my long ride that – in retrospect – were likely due to being too tired. 

     With two hours to go (and already more than 14 hours since I had hit the road), a kid on a crotch rocket buzzed past me and it momentarily startled and scared me; I never saw him coming, and I realized I was kind of in a daze at the time, just droning along with that constant 3000 RPM sound of my bike.

     As I was in the final hour of my 16-hour, 1000-mile day, I was racing down I-25 toward Denver with a plan to take the Interstate all the way back to Castle Rock.  When I looked up, I found myself on I-270 and it took me a couple minutes to focus and figure out where I was.  I am convinced that these two things happened because I was simply too tired mentally.

     On the Iron Butt Association’s web site, they warn about becoming tired and that one should focus on staying safe.  But, with that Saddle Sore 1000 certificate and patch on the line, I wasn’t about to quit just an hour or two from home.

     I made it home safely.

     Many traffic accidents involve fatigue as a contributing factor: these occur in cars, big trucks, and with motorcycles.  The National Safety Council says that 300,000 car crashes are a result of “drowsy driving” each year, and the U.S. Department of Transportation reports that about 10,000 truck accidents are caused by a tired truck driver.  I couldn’t find any good stats on motorcycle crashes related to fatigue, but clearly there are many.

     Driving or riding anything while fatigued or drowsy will impair reaction times, judgement, and overall awareness.  An accident is more likely when we are tired.

     What can we do about it?

     We have to stay self-aware and recognize our own body’s signals.  Yes, looking at your Harley and going through the T-CLOCS checklist before a ride is important, but an equally important added factor we should look at before climbing on the seat is the condition of our own body and brain. 

     Taking breaks, staying hydrated, eating along the way, and having creature comforts like a good seat are all important on a long ride.  How late you were up the night before and how early you got up that morning are important too.  How many hours are you planning to ride?

     When I pulled into the garage at 8:30 PM that night, my wife popped her head out and she said, “Well, how was it?”

     I groaned as I slid off the seat.  “I’m glad I did it.”  I thought for a minute, and then added, “But I doubt that I’ll ever do that again.”

     Well, we’ll see about that!

     Let’s be safe out there…..and stay alert!

Arlen Stauffer

MD, DCCC Member

 ’22 Road King Special Rider