LANSING, Mich. — The Michigan Department of State kicked off Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month on Thursday by relaunching its annual “Look Twice. Save a Life.” public education campaign, as Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued a proclamation calling on motorists to drive more cautiously around motorcyclists.
The campaign targets Michigan’s more than 610,000 licensed motorcyclists as riding season returns to the state. State crash data reveals the urgent need for increased awareness, with 3,187 crashes involving motorcycles and other vehicles recorded in 2024, resulting in 168 fatalities.
“As motorcycle season returns to Michigan, we’re reminding drivers to be attentive and on the lookout for motorcyclists,” said Deputy Secretary of State Aghogho Edevbie. “Motorcyclists are more vulnerable on the road and are sometimes hard to see. Being aware, eliminating distractions behind the wheel, and looking twice – can save a life of someone’s family member, friend, or loved one.”
The campaign appears to be making an impact. A 2025 survey commissioned by the Michigan Department of State found a 50% increase in drivers who report they always look twice for motorcyclists before making a turn since the campaign launched in 2019. Drivers aged 18-29 showed the most improvement in safety behaviors and were more likely to slow down near motorcyclists, double-check blind spots, make complete stops and use turn signals compared to 2019.
State crash data from the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning reveals concerning patterns. According to the Michigan Traffic Crash Facts website, 84% of motorcyclist crashes with other vehicles occur on busy streets rather than highways, with most happening when vehicles turn left. Data from 2021-2023 shows 53% of fatal motorcycle crashes involving another vehicle happen between 4-11 p.m., with the highest concentration occurring from 5-8 p.m. Weekend crashes are also more common, with most incidents happening Friday through Sunday.
“Motorcycles are smaller, faster, harder to see, and they turn and stop quicker – that’s why all drivers need to increase their following distance behind a motorcyclist and take more time to scan and search at intersections,” said Byran Heiss, president of the Michigan Driver and Traffic Safety Association and owner of the Buckle In Driving Academy in West Michigan, which trains more than 4,600 students annually.
Heiss emphasized the importance of developing safe driving habits around motorcyclists.
“We want drivers to create good habits. It’s about doing it right and not being rushed. Slow down, search, and scan more. Take a breath, look around again, and then pull out. Taking that extra second to just look around an intersection again is a big thing that every driver should do,” Heiss said.
The Michigan Department of State offers specific safety tips for drivers sharing the road with motorcyclists:
Use caution when turning left — Most crashes occur when vehicle drivers turning left fail to notice oncoming motorcyclists.
Remember streets pose greater danger than highways — The majority of vehicle-motorcyclist crashes happen on city streets rather than highways.
Maintain safe following distance — Many motorcyclists slow down by downshifting, which doesn’t activate brake lights. Drivers should allow extra stopping distance.
Avoid distractions — Distracted driving diverts attention from the road and increases crash risk.
Double-check blind spots — Motorcyclists can easily disappear in vehicle blind spots, including forward blind spots created at the edge of windshields and driver’s side windows during turns.
Judge distance carefully — The smaller size and single headlights of motorcycles make their speed and distance harder for drivers to assess accurately.
The “Look Twice. Save a Life.” campaign runs throughout May, coinciding with the start of peak motorcycle riding season in Michigan. Complete crash statistics for each county are available on the Michigan Traffic Crash Facts website.
ore information about the campaign is available at Michigan.gov/LookTwice.
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