Officials are reminding drivers to be aware of motorcyclists on the road during Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month.
In 2023, Michigan saw over 3,000 motorcycle crashes and 165 fatalities according to the Office of Highway Safety Planning.
In 2024, Indiana saw over 2,500 motorcycle crashes and 132 fatalities according to ABATE Indiana, a non-profit aimed to promote motorcyclists safety.
Jay Jackson, ABATE Indiana Executive Director, says drivers will start to see more riders on the road.
“People get a little rusty. People that haven’t ridden for a few months, motorists that haven’t been used to seeing bikes out on the road for the last few months are a little less observant. So this is just sort of reminder and a wake up call to make sure that the motorists are looking for bikers and that bikers are paying attention,” Jackson said.
Jackson says there are things motorcycle riders can do to stay safe on the road, including wearing proper safety gear, wearing brighter colored and reflective clothing as well as making sure you are positioned in your lane when driving to be visible to other cars but drivers need to be alert as well.
“With all the things that are in cars now and all the distractions, it’s real easy for a motorcycle to get lost and people not see them. So we want the driver to really look, not just once, but twice, to make sure there’s not a motorcycle or pedestrian, for that matter, coming towards them,” Jackson said.
Jason Kersting teaches ride safe classes at the Kersting’s Cycle Center.
He believes that even an experienced rider should think about safety, especially, if they haven’t ridden in a while.
“Being safe on a motorcycle is not necessarily just worrying about other vehicles, but it’s yourself. So if you’re wearing a black helmet on a 90 degree day, your body is sweating and releasing all of your water. So you’ve got to be careful to not dehydrate, because your senses slow down when you’re dehydrated,” Kersting said.
Both emphasize the “look twice, save a life” rule for everyone on the road, saying reducing motorcycle crashes and fatalities is possible but everyone on the road must do their part.
