Motorcycle Accident Statistics in 2026

Although motorcycles make up only 3 percent of all registered vehicles in the U.S., they account for 15 percent of traffic fatalities, making them much more dangerous to ride than regular passenger vehicles.¹

Injuries are more common than fatalities based on 2023 NHTSA data (the most recent available) about motorcycle crashes, which is true of motor vehicle crashes in general. During that year, the fatality rate per 100,000 registered vehicles was 66.57, while the injury rate was 868.

From 2014 to 2023, the fatality rate per 100,000 registered vehicles increased 22 percent, though the rate has remained relatively stable since 2020.

In addition, the number of motorcycle fatalities year-over-year remained stable according to the most recent data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

• Alcohol: In 2023, 41 percent of motorcycle riders who died in single-vehicle crashes had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or higher, meaning they were alcohol-impaired.
• Fixed objects: Many motorcycle accidents don’t involve other moving objects like cars. Rather, they involve collisions with fixed objects, like hitting parked cars.
• Lack of awareness: Many motorcycle accidents occur because drivers of other vehicles fail to detect the presence of a motorcycle, particularly when turning or changing lanes.
• Lane splitting: Riding down the middle of the lane on a motorcycle is dangerous and causes a significant percentage of accidents.
• Low visibility: Low visibility is a huge issue for motorcyclists, which is why it’s important to wear brightly colored clothing and reflective gear (more on that below).
• Speeding: Speeding was involved in 36 percent of motorcycle crashes in 2023.

In 2023, 6,335 motorcycle riders and passengers were involved in fatal crashes, making motorcycles one of the most deadly motor vehicles. The fatality rate for motorcyclists was nearly six times that of passenger car occupants. Motorcyclists include both motorcycle riders (the person operating the motorcycle) and passengers.

By Setting

Read on to find out where and when most motorcycle-related deaths occur.

Time of Day

In 2023, the majority of accidents involving motorcycle deaths occurred between the hours of 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.²

Day of Week

According to IIHS data from 2023, 47 percent of motorcycle fatalities occurred on the weekends, defined as the hours between 6 p.m. on Friday and 6 a.m. on Monday.

Weather and Light Conditions

The NHTSA reports that the vast majority — 97 percent — of motorcycle fatalities in 2023 occurred during clear or cloudy weather. Only 2 percent occurred during rainy weather, while 1 percent occurred during snow, fog, or other conditions.

More than half of fatalities — 56 percent — occurred during daylight, 39 percent in the dark, 4 percent at dusk, and 1 percent at dawn.

Rural vs. Urban

In 2023, most motorcycle deaths — 65 percent — occurred in urban settings. Only 35 percent occurred in rural settings (NHTSA).

State

Florida had the largest number of motorcycle fatalities in 2023, with 668 deaths. This number accounted for 11 percent of all motorcycle fatalities in the U.S. that year. Texas had the second-most motorcycle fatalities — 598 — in 2023, accounting for 9 percent of motorcycle fatalities nationwide.

Source: NHTSA

By Motorcycle Type

Motorcycles vs. ATVs

Along with motorcycles, ATVs are known to be an extremely dangerous form of transportation. Of course, many more people ride in passenger vehicles than in motorcycles and ATVs. However, in 2023, 75 percent of ATV deaths occurred from accidents involving only a single ATV. By comparison, only 35 percent of motorcycle deaths involved a single motorcycle, and 43 percent of passenger-vehicle deaths involved a single vehicle. On their own, ATVs are more dangerous than motorcycles and passenger vehicles.

Source: IIHS

Engine Size

Nearly half of all motorcycle riders killed in 2023 had engine sizes of 1,000 cc or smaller; of those, about half had supersport motorcycles. Thirty-three percent of riders killed had motorcycles with engine sizes of 1,400 cc or higher.

Source: IIHS

By Demographic

Young men are the demographic group most likely to be killed in motorcycle crashes.

Age

The plurality of people who die in motorcycle crashes (23 percent) are between the ages of 25 and 34. People ages 25 to 54 make up over half of all motorcycle fatalities.²

Sex

In 2023, 92 percent of motorcyclist fatalities were male, while only 8 percent were female.

Driver’s License

More than a third (34 percent) of people killed in motorcycle accidents in 2023 didn’t have valid licenses at the time of their deaths, compared to 15 percent of drivers who died in passenger vehicles.

Helmet Use

More than 60 percent of riders killed in motorcycle crashes in 2023 wore helmets at the time of their crashes.

Alcohol Impairment

Alcohol impairment is a major cause of death among all drivers, but since riding motorcycles is particularly dangerous compared to passenger vehicles, DUIs are even more deadly for motorcyclists.

A BAC of 0.08 percent or higher means a person is not sober and cannot drive safely. Among motorcycle fatalities in 2023, 26 percent involved a rider with a BAC of 0.08 or higher, while 7 percent had a BAC of between 0.01 and 0.07. Sixteen percent had a BAC greater than 0.15.

Crash Type

In 2023, most deadly motorcycle collisions (60 percent) occurred with motor vehicles in transport. In 79 percent of those crashes, the motorcycle was hit in the front, and only 6 percent involved a motorcycle being hit in the rear. Compared to other types of vehicles, motorcycles were more likely to have fatal collisions with fixed objects.

Speeding

Thirty-six percent of all motorcycle rider fatalities in 2023 involved speeding.

Most motorcycle accidents in 2023 were injury-only.

By Year

From 2014 to 2023, the number of motorcyclists injured in accidents decreased by 10 percent, an average decrease of less than 1 percent (about 0.7 percent) each year.

Some positive news is that, according to data analyzed by the National Safety Council, helmet use among motorcyclists increased from 58 percent in 2002 to 74 percent in 2023.⁴ Helmet use in 2023 was the highest it’s been recorded.

According to the NHTSA, only 18 states and Washington, D.C., required all motorcyclists to wear helmets in 2023. These regulations are referred to as universal helmet laws. In contrast,  29 states only required helmets for a subset of motorcyclists, usually those under 18. Three states — Illinois, Iowa, and New Hampshire — didn’t require helmets for motorcyclists of any age.

Although motorcycles are inherently dangerous, you can decrease your risk of causing injuries and fatalities by following these best practices for safety.

1. 1. Increase your visibility. One major cause of motorcycle accidents is a lack of visibility. Make yourself more visible by using your headlights and keeping them on at all times, flashing your brake lights when you slow down or stop, and using reflective strips and decals on your motorcycle and clothing.
   2. Avoid blind spots. Don’t ride in the blind spots of cars or trucks.
   3. Dress correctly. On top of wearing a helmet and eye protection (ideally a full-face helmet), you should wear leather gloves; bright, sturdy and protective clothing; and over-the-ankle boots.
   4. Drive defensively. Scan the road ahead of you, maintain a long distance between you and the vehicle in front of you, and use your turn signals. These tactics are all part of driving defensively.
   5. Don’t drive drunk. Since motorcycles have higher fatality rates than cars, driving drunk is even more dangerous.
   6. Get a good night’s sleep. Avoid drowsy driving and make sure you’re energized when you ride your motorcycle.
   7. Stay focused. Avoid distracted driving like answering texts, daydreaming, or talking on the phone.⁵

Per the most recent federal data analyzed by the National Safety Council, there were over 9.5 million registered motorcycles in the U.S. in 2023, a 33 percent increase from 2007.⁶

Vehicle Miles Traveled

The total vehicle miles traveled increased by around 6 percent between 2007 and 2023. From 2019 to 2020, vehicle miles traveled decreased by 9 percent, which may have been a side effect of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, they have increased by 21 percent from 2019 to 2022. From 2022 to 2023, the total number of vehicle miles saw a steep decrease of 15 percent.

While behaviors like driving under the influence, speeding, not wearing a helmet, and driving in poor conditions increase your risk of an accident, the majority of crashes take place on clear or cloudy days and involve motorcyclists who are driving sober, adhering to the speed limit, and wearing a helmet. Implementing safety strategies, such as driving defensively and avoiding distractions, can help lessen your chances of accidents.

We used the following third parties to compile this report:

• Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
• Motorcycle Safety Foundation
• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• National Safety Council
• Observatório De La Economía Latinoamericana