Alcohol, Drugs, Medication and Fitness to Ride
Alcohol and the moped rider
Alcohol impairs judgement, reaction time, balance, and coordination, all of which are critical on a two-wheeler. Belgian law sets legal blood-alcohol limits, and a moped rider is subject to them just like other road users. The exam trap is the belief that a moped is too slow or too small to be affected by alcohol; in reality, balance on two wheels is more vulnerable than in a car. Even below the legal limit, impairment begins, and the safest choice is not to drink at all before riding.
Drugs and medication
Illegal drugs are incompatible with riding. Many prescription and over-the-counter medicines, especially those for allergies, anxiety, sleep, or pain, can cause drowsiness, slowed reactions, or blurred vision. Read the label and the package leaflet, and ask a pharmacist or doctor whether the medicine affects driving. The trap is assuming that a medicine bought without a prescription is harmless for riding. A rider who feels drowsy or unwell should not ride, regardless of the legal limit.
Fitness and fatigue
Fatigue, illness, stress, and distraction degrade fitness to ride just as alcohol does. A rider who cannot concentrate should use another form of transport. If a rider is stopped and tested, refusing a test has serious legal consequences.
Worked rule of thumb
Apply the "zero, check, rest" rule: zero alcohol before riding, check every medicine for driving warnings, and rest if tired or unwell. If in doubt, do not ride.