May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month
Secretary Benson banner
*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*
May 1, 2025
Contact: Cheri Hardmon
[email protected]
Secretary Benson calls on Michiganders to “Look Twice. Save a Life.” for Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month
*LANSING, Mich – *May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month and today, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson kicked off the Michigan Department of State’s (MDOS) annual “Look Twice, Save a Life” safety campaign [ [link removed] ].
*Listen:* Secretary Benson shares a message to “ [ [link removed] ]Look Twice, Save a Life” [ [link removed] ]
“As motorcyclists return to Michigan’s roads with the warmer weather, it’s a good time to remind every driver to take extra care and watch out for motorcycles,” *Secretary Benson said*. “Motorcycles can be hard to see, so remember to ‘Look Twice. Save a Life’. Staying alert and being aware will help keep us safe on the road all summer.”
There are more than 610,000 licensed motorcyclists in Michigan. The Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning Michigan Traffic Crash Facts (MTCF) website [ [link removed] ] reports 3,056 Michigan motorcycle crashes in 2023, of which 165 were fatal. Complete data, including crash statistics for each county, is also available at the MTCF website.
According to MCTF, 84% of motorcycle crashes with another vehicle happen on busy streets, and most crashes with motorcyclists happen when vehicles are turning left. It is important for drivers to keep a watchful eye and to look twice before turning to reduce the chance of tragedy.
Since the start of the “Look Twice. Save a Life.” campaign in 2019, there has been a 33% increase in Michigan drivers who report they always look twice for motorcyclists before making a turn, according to a 2023 survey commissioned by MDOS. Young drivers aged 18-29 years old report safer driving behaviors and are more likely to say they always slow down near motorcyclists, double-check blind spots, make complete stops, and use turn signals than in 2019. This age group saw the greatest gain with a 45% increase in looking twice before turns.
Most crashes with motorcyclists happen on the weekends, Friday through Sunday. An analysis of Michigan crash data from 2021-2023 shows 53% of fatal motorcycle crashes, involving a motorcyclist and another vehicle, happen from 4-11 p.m. with the highest concentration from 5-8 p.m. Secretary Benson encourages drivers to remain vigilant by slowing down, double-checking blind spots, and avoiding distractions when behind the wheel.
Funding for the “Look Twice. Save a Life.” campaign comes from the Motorcycle Safety and Education Awareness Fund [ [link removed] ], created by the Michigan Legislature in 2017. The fund is financed by $2.50 from each original motorcycle endorsement and $2 from each motorcycle endorsement renewal.
Driving tips and more information about the campaign are available online at Michigan.gov/LookTwice [ [link removed] ].
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Look Twice, Save a Life
The "Look Twice. Save a Life” campaign will be featured on billboards, radio advertisements, and TV screens at gas stations across Michigan.
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Look Twice, Save a Life
Pictured is a design of a billboard that will be displayed across the state during the “Look Twice. Save a Life” campaign.
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[email protected] using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Michigan Secretary of State · 430 W. Allegan Street · Lansing, MI 48918 · 1-888-767-6424
