ABATE started the Awareness Program in Michigan in February 1995. All the materials used at that time came from the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. Region 11 began writing their own program, testing it, and critiquing it in 1996. What is this program? It is designed to educate and inform future and present drivers to look for motorcyclists on the road. Volunteers from the region go into various locations such as the ABC driver education classes, area high schools, and even the boy scouts.

The program is done for the safety of all motorcyclists in the state of Michigan. We firmly believe that the key to reducing the number of deaths and injuries to motorcyclists is through education, not legislation. As most motorcycle/car accidents are the fault of the car driver, we feel that making students more aware of our presence is the key to lowering accidents. Our program points out the problem areas and shows them ways to better see motorcycles on our roads. The volunteers, known as motorcycle awareness instructors donate about 1-½ hours a month for the benefit of all cyclists. Depending on class room size each program last from 30 to 45 minutes long. The state sponsor Guardian Alarm pays for all the materials used in the classroom. There is no charge to the students or the schools.

The topics we cover are:
     1. Introduction of ABATE Awareness
     2. 10 minute video-"Cars, Motorcycles and the Common Road"
     3. Riders, Bikes, Problems, and Clothing
     4. Riders Rights on the Road
     5. Conclusion and Informal Question Quiz and Answer Session