Brendan Johnson never got to see the billboard featuring his prized leather motorcycle jacket.
Before he died in a crash, Johnson proudly lent the jacket to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) for use in its new motorcycle safety campaign. The 28-year-old was eager to promote a message that might save rider’s lives. Tragically, he lost his own before the campaign launched.
Now, during the state’s Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, TxDOT is sharing Johnson’s story as part of its Share the Road: Look Twice for Motorcycles initiative. The campaign aims to reduce the nearly 600 motorcycle fatalities recorded throughout the state by 2024 alone.
“We often hear drivers say they simply ‘didn’t see’ the motorcyclist,” said TxDOT Executive Director Marc Williams. “We want every driver to check and double check for motorcycles and learn how to safely share the road across the streets and highways of Texas.”
Johnson’s death followed a familiar pattern seen in many tragic motorcycle accidents after a van turned in front of him on his ride back home from work. His coworkers, some of the first on the scene, attempted CPR. The van driver, dazed, allegedly kept asking, “Where did he come from? I didn’t see him.”
That question motivates and haunts TxDOT’s campaign, highlighting the painful reality that motorcyclists often go unseen by drivers until it’s too late.
In 2024, more than 9,000 motorcycle crashes were reported across Texas. Out of those crashes, 585 riders lost their lives.
Officials say many of these crashes could have been avoided if drivers remained more alert and practiced safer driving habits around motorcycles.
The campaign has listed a clear set of safety practices for drivers, including:
- Train your eyes – Motorcycles are smaller and often harder to spot. Building a habit of actively looking for them helps drivers better recognize them.
- Look twice – Use turn signals, check mirrors, and scan blind spots before changing lanes.
- Turn with care – Judging the speed and distance of an oncoming motorcycle can be tricky. Don’t risk trying to “beat” one through a turn.
- Back off a bit – Maintain a safe following distance. Motorcycles may decelerate without visible brake lights.
- Don’t share lanes – Motorcycles need the full width of a lane, just like any other vehicle.
- Slow down – High speeds increase the severity of crashes—for everyone.
Additionally, Americans are urged to do their best to keep the streets clean and clear. According to Geauga County Sheriff Scott Hildebrand, even grass clippings can be a catalyst for danger. “Imagine what it’s like when you lose your footing on an icy sidewalk, that’s what it’s like for a motorcycle on grass,” Hildebrand posted.
TxDOT will now be taking its motorcycle safety campaign on the road. A new interactive exhibit will use virtual reality to show how easily motorcycles can disappear from view and how quickly accidents happen when drivers aren’t paying attention.
Though Brendan Johnson won’t ever see the safety signs he helped create, TxDOT hopes his story leaves a lasting impact on drivers throughout the Lone Star State.
For Johnson’s loved ones and for hundreds of others who’ve lost riders on Texas roads, the message is simple: Look twice, save a life.