Drivers must share the road with motorcycles

Motorcycles have the same rights and responsibilities as other drivers. However, it is more difficult to see them and drivers find it difficult to determine what they will do. There are special situations and conditions to be aware of so you can safely share the road with motorcycles:

• Do not share a lane with a motorcycle. They have the right to use a complete traffic lane and they need space to react to other traffic.
• The single headlight or tail light on a motorcycle can blend into the lights of other vehicles.
• Always make a visual check for motorcycles by checking mirrors and blind spots by turning your head and looking before entering or leaving a lane of traffic and at intersections. Many crashes happen because motorists fail to check their blind spots and don’t see the motorcyclist.
• Before turning left, be alert for motorcycles by looking carefully to the front and sides of your vehicle. Left turns present a higher risk for crashes because it is easy for motorists to overlook oncoming motorcyclists due to their smaller profile and speed.
• Intersections are the number one spot for crashes with motorcyclists. Always look twice before proceeding.
• When following a motorcyclist, allow for a 3 to 4 second following distance or more in wet conditions, or you may not have enough time or space to avoid a crash.  Motorcycles can stop quickly, and may have to swerve suddenly to avoid obstacles. Following too closely endangers your life and that of the motorcyclist.

Get more tips on how to drive safely around motorcyclists.

Unendorsed is unsafe!

Unendorsed riders make up about 14 percent of Michigan’s motorcycle riding population, but they are involved in almost half of all motorcycle crashes.  

The penalty for riding a motorcycle without an endorsement has been increased to $500 for a first offense. If you are cited for riding unendorsed your bike may also be towed. Help protect yourself and your bike by remembering that unendorsed is unsafe!  

For information on how to obtain a motorcycle endorsement on your driver’s license, click here.

Michigan residents have the chance to make a profound impact on the well-being of others by joining the Michigan Organ Donor Registry. Adding your name to the state registry of people willing to donate their organs, eyes and tissue will be the first step toward someday becoming a hero. When you join the registry, you receive a red heart emblem for your license, indicating  your decision that you want to help others through donation. It is always a good idea to share your decision with your family and to explain why it is important to you. Ruth Johnson Secretary of State

Back off from big vehicles on roadways

Keep a safe distance behind a truck or bus. Following a commercial vehicle too closely greatly increases the chances of a rear-end collision. 

When your automobile is right behind a commercial vehicle, the driver cannot see it and it severely limits what you can see on the road ahead. Extend the distance between your vehicle and a commercial vehicle as weather or road conditions deteriorate.

(Photo: A special trailer hauls a large piece of a wind turbine on westbound I-69 in Woodhull Township on April 26.)

Parents who lost son target distracted driving

After their teenage son lost his life due to a distracted driver last September, a Michigan family has taken on the cause to help save other lives. They are speaking out against distracted driving in all of its forms.

Read the Oakland Press story