With the snow gone and spring well established even in the Upper Peninsula, motorcycles should begin appearing again, if not back out already.

May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson on Thursday kicked off the Michigan Department of State’s annual “Look Twice, Save a Life” safety campaign.

“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,” Benson said in a news release. “Motorcycles can be hard to see, so remember to ‘Look Twice. Save a Life.'”

The state has more than 610,000 licensed motorcyclists. The Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning Michigan Traffic Crash Facts website listed 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, https://www.michigantrafficcrashfacts.org/.

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 to 11 p.m., with the highest concentration from 5 to 8 p.m.

According to MTCF, 84% of motorcycle crashes with another vehicle happen on busy streets, and most crashes with motorcyclists happen when vehicles are turning left. So 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, the state has recorded a 33% increase in 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 to 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.

Driving tips and more information about the campaign are available online at Michigan.gov/LookTwice.