Alcohol, drugs, medication and fatigue
What the exam tests
This domain tests your knowledge of Denmark's alcohol limit, drug rules, medication warnings and the effects of fatigue. Motorcycling demands balance, vision and quick decisions, so even small amounts of alcohol or sedating medicine matter more than they do in a car.
Core rules
- The general alcohol limit in Denmark is 0.5 per mille (0.05% BAC). For a motorcycle rider the same limit applies. Penalties increase sharply above the limit, and a high reading can lead to unconditional licence suspension.
- Denmark applies a zero-tolerance approach to illegal drugs while driving. A positive test can lead to loss of the licence even without obvious impairment.
- Medicines can impair driving. Read the package leaflet and ask a pharmacist or doctor about driving. A warning triangle on the packaging means you should not drive until you know the effect.
- Alcohol is eliminated slowly, roughly 0.1 to 0.15 per mille per hour for many people. Coffee, cold air, food and sleep do not speed this up.
- Fatigue causes microsleeps, delayed reactions and poor hazard perception. Stop for a proper break before you feel sleepy; a short nap and caffeine help only temporarily.
- Never ride with a hangover if you are still impaired; time is the only reliable measure.
Worked example
You had several drinks the previous evening and feel tired the next morning. Your last drink was about six hours ago. You estimate that your body may still be above 0.5 per mille, so you do not ride. You cannot calculate your exact level, and a morning-after reading can still cost you your licence. You use public transport and collect the motorcycle later.
Traps
Counting drinks rather than understanding that body weight, food and time vary; believing coffee sobers you up; assuming prescription medicine is automatically safe; riding to "clear your head" when tired; ignoring a morning-after risk.