I am a motorcyclist who was struck by a driver making a left turn who failed to yield, resulting in serious injuries. My life changed in an instant because a driver did not see me or did not understand how to safely interact with a motorcycle. Even more devastating, my close friend, Stacey Johnson, was killed on July 4, 2020, in a nearly identical crash. A driver made a left turn, failed to yield, and killed her.

These tragic incidents are not isolated. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), motorcyclists are about 28 times more likely than people in passenger vehicles to die in a traffic crash. A significant number of these crashes involve drivers failing to recognize motorcycles or misjudging their speed.

California has the highest number of registered motorcycles in the country, which means promoting safe interaction between cars and motorcycles on roads is vital. Lane splitting, or lane filtering, is legal in California, yet many drivers are unaware of how to share the road safely with motorcyclists engaging in these maneuvers.

One effective solution to promote safety and reduce accidents is to incorporate motorcycle safety and lane splitting education into California Driver’s Education curriculums. This would ensure that future drivers learn to recognize motorcycles, understand their behavior on the road, and know how to drive safely around them.

We are calling on California leaders to require a dedicated motorcycle safety module in all driver’s education programs, including:

• Motorcycle awareness and visibility training
• Common crash scenarios (especially left-turn failures to yield)
• Education on lane splitting laws and safe driver behavior
• Clear “do and don’t” guidance for sharing the road with motorcycles

Additionally, the California Driver Handbook and DMV written exam should be updated to reflect these critical safety topics.

The American Motorcyclist Association supports such initiatives and highlights that driver education can dramatically reduce motorcycle-related accidents. Implementing these educational programs can foster a culture of safety, tolerance, and mutual respect among all road users.

We urge the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), along with the California State Legislature and California Highway Patrol (CHP), to take immediate action to require comprehensive motorcycle safety education in driver's ed courses across the state.

By signing this petition, you are advocating for safer roads and helping prevent further tragedies. Let’s work together to make California's roads safer for everyone. Please sign and share this petition.