Alcohol, drugs, fatigue, medicines and fitness to ride
Alcohol, drugs and medicines
North Macedonia's general blood-alcohol limit is 0.05%. Novice and professional drivers are subject to a zero limit, and any alcohol can impair judgement, balance and reaction time even below the general limit. Illegal drugs and driving under their influence are prohibited. Prescription and over-the-counter medicines can cause drowsiness or slow reactions; read the label and ask a pharmacist before riding.
Fatigue and fitness
Fatigue is a major crash risk. Take a break at least every two hours, and stop sooner if you yawn, lose concentration or have heavy eyes. Coffee and fresh air do not replace sleep. Do not ride when ill, exhausted or emotionally distracted.
Worked example
A novice rider has one beer and feels fine. Their limit is zero, so any alcohol is a violation. Even for an experienced rider within the general limit, the safe choice is not to ride: impairment, not just the number, matters, and a crash or check can still lead to a charge.
Traps that cost marks
Believing coffee sobers you up; assuming a small dose of a medicine is harmless; riding home because the distance is short; ignoring the zero limit for novices; relying on feeling fine instead of a proper break.