The warm weather is slowly returning, and with it, the familiar sound of engines roaring back to life. For motorcyclists, this time of year is supposed to be filled with excitement and anticipation. But in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), a dark cloud has settled over the riding community—because even before the season has officially started, we’ve already seen far too many motorcycle accidents, injuries, and tragic deaths.

This year, the number of casualties among riders is alarming—and unacceptable.

A Problem That Starts with Carelessness

Let’s be honest. One of the biggest threats to motorcyclists on the road isn’t speed or weather—it’s careless drivers in cars, SUVs, and trucks. Every single rider knows what it feels like to have a car cut them off, turn left without looking, or swerve into their lane without checking blind spots. It happens constantly. And far too often, it ends in disaster.

It’s not that drivers don’t see us. It’s that they don’t look. There’s a difference.

Motorcycles are smaller and quieter than four-wheel vehicles. That’s why the responsibility is even greater on the part of drivers to actively check their mirrors, look twice at intersections, and stay alert. A moment’s distraction for a car driver can cost a rider their life.

Questionable Licenses, Questionable Skills

There’s another issue plaguing our roads: drivers who simply shouldn’t be behind the wheel.

Let’s call it out—there are too many shady licenses being handed out without proper training, especially in some private driving schools. Some people are being put on the road without the experience or skill to drive safely. When someone who barely knows how to control a vehicle gets a license, they become a rolling danger—not just to themselves, but to every vulnerable road user around them, including motorcyclists.

We’re not just imagining it. You can see it every day on GTA roads—drivers who don’t know how to change lanes safely, who panic at intersections, or who follow too closely. And unfortunately, it’s the most exposed people—motorcyclists, cyclists, and pedestrians—who pay the highest price for that incompetence.

The Roads Belong to All of Us

It’s time for everyone to wake up.

Motorcycles are not going away. We are part of the traffic. We are professionals, commuters, and parents. Some of us ride for passion, others for practicality. And we deserve to share the road in safety.

Car and truck drivers: It’s not just about passing your driving test. It’s about learning to coexist. Stay alert. Don’t tailgate. Use your mirrors. Signal your turns. Give riders space. If you don’t take these precautions, you’re playing with people’s lives.

To Our Fallen Riders

To every rider who has lost their life on the roads this year in the GTA, we send our heartfelt prayers. You should still be with us—riding free, enjoying the wind, and sharing in the community we all love.

To their families and loved ones, please know that the riding community stands with you. Every time we start our engines this season, we’ll remember those we’ve lost. And we’ll keep speaking up—for better driving laws, for safer roads, and for accountability.

What Needs to Happen Now

• Stricter oversight of driving schools: We need to stop licenses from being handed out without real training and testing.
• Mandatory driver awareness programs: All new and renewing drivers should be educated on how to share the road with motorcyclists.
• Stronger penalties for careless driving: Drivers who endanger motorcyclists through negligence should face consequences.
• Public awareness campaigns: The government and community organizations must push aggressive campaigns to raise awareness.

This isn’t just about motorcycles. It’s about respect. It’s about awareness. And it’s about making sure every person who sets out on two wheels comes home safe.

To every rider gearing up for the season—ride smart, ride safe, and stay visible.
To every driver—look twice, be patient, and remember: your car has a seatbelt, a frame, and airbags. A rider has none.

Let’s not lose any more lives before the season even begins.