The following motorcycle accident statistics were compiled from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Fatal Motorcycle Accident Statistics
In 2016, there were almost 28 times more motorcycle fatalities than passenger vehicle fatalities per mile traveled.
In 2016, 5,286 motorcyclists died in accidents. This represents a 5.1 percent increase from 2015, when 5,029 motorcyclists died in accidents.
In 2016, 4,950—94 percent—of the riders who died in motorcycle accidents were operators and 336—6 percent—were passengers.
Motorcyclists are 6 times more likely to get hurt per mile traveled than passenger-vehicle occupants.
In 2014, 4,586 riders died in motorcycle accidents, which is less than the 4,692 riders who died in 2013.
Of the motorcyclists who were involved in fatal accidents in 2016, 23 percent collided with fixed objects.
Motorcycle Accident Injury Statistics
In 2015, approximately 88,000 riders were hurt in motorcycle accidents.
In 2014, approximately 92,000 riders were hurt in motorcycle accidents.
In 2013, approximately 88,000 riders were hurt in motorcycle accidents.
Motorcycle Accidents by Age
More than 50 percent of all motorcycle accident fatalities in 2010 were 40 or older. In 1995, this demographic made up just 25 percent of all motorcycle accident fatalities.
In 2007, 49 percent of all motorcycle accident fatalities were 40 or older.
In 2016, 54 percent of all motorcycle accident fatalities were 40 or older.
The average age of riders who died in motorcycle accidents in 2007 was 39.
The average age of riders who died in motorcycle accidents in 2016 was 43.
Male/Female Motorcycle Accident Statistics
In 2010, women made up 10 percent of riders who were killed in motorcycle accidents; however, 89 percent of all passengers who died in motorcycle accidents that year were women.
Motorcycle Accident Helmet Use Statistics
Motorcycle riders who are not wearing a helmet are twice as likely to sustain a traumatic brain injury in an accident.
Wearing an adequate helmet when riding will reduce the risk of head injury by 69 percent and the risk of death by 37 percent. To put this into perspective, for every 100 riders who die in motorcycle accidents while not wearing a helmet, 37 could have survived had all 100 of them worn a helmet.
Estimates by the NHTSA indicate that helmets prevented 1,859 motorcycle accident fatalities in 2016. Had all riders been wearing a helmet, an additional 802 individuals would have been saved.
In 2016, approximately 60 percent of operators and 44 percent of passengers who sustained a fatal injury were not wearing a helmet at the time.
The National Occupant Protection Use Survey found the rate of helmet use in the U.S. that was DOT-compliant in 2016 was 65.3 percent.
In states that require all operators and passengers to wear a helmet, compliance is significantly higher.
Motorcycle Accident Risk Factor Statistics
Of all the motorcyclists involved in fatal accidents in 2016, 33 percent had been speeding at the time, compared to 19 percent of passenger-vehicle motorists, 15 percent of small truck drivers, and 7 percent of large truck drivers.
In 2016, nearly 27 percent of motorcyclists who were involved in a fatal accident did not have a valid motorcycle license at the time.
In 2016, 43 percent of all fatal motorcycle accidents happened in a rural location, while 57 percent happened in an urban location.
In 2016, 34 percent of all fatal motorcycle accidents happened at intersections, while 66 percent happened at non-intersection spots.
In 2016, 1 percent of all fatal motorcycle accidents happened at dawn, 4 percent happened at dusk, 36 percent happened at nighttime, and 59 percent happened during the day.
In 2016, 2 percent of all fatal motorcycle accidents happened in the rain, 97 percent happened in cloudy or clear conditions, and 1 percent happened in other conditions.
Most people who die in motorcycle accidents were riding a mid-size sport bike designed for agility and speed.
Alcohol-Related Motorcycle Accident Statistics
In 2016, riders involved in fatal accidents had higher rates of alcohol impairment than other vehicle operators. Of those involved in fatal crashes that year, 25 percent of motorcyclists were impaired, as were 21 percent of passenger-vehicle drivers, 20 percent of small truck drivers, and 2 percent of large truck drivers.
In 2010, 28 percent of motorcyclists who died in accidents registered a blood alcohol concentration of at least 0.08.
In 2014, 43 percent of motorcyclists who sustained fatal injuries in single-vehicle accidents had been riding while impaired.
In 2016, 38 percent of motorcycle fatalities who were riding while impaired were between 35 and 39 years old, 37 percent were between 45 and 49 years old, and 32 percent were between 40 and 44 years old.
In 2016, riders who died in motorcycle accidents at night were three times more often found to be riding while impaired (40 percent) than those who died in accidents during the day (12 percent).
Motorcycle Accident Statistics by State
In 2016, 96 riders died in motorcycle accidents in Alabama.
In 2016, 5 riders died in motorcycle accidents in Alaska.
In 2016, 136 riders died in motorcycle accidents in Arizona.
In 2016, 69 riders died in motorcycle accidents in Arkansas.
In 2016, 529 riders died in motorcycle accidents in California.
In 2016, 114 riders died in motorcycle accidents in Colorado.
In 2016, 50 riders died in motorcycle accidents in Connecticut.
In 2016, 13 riders died in motorcycle accidents in Delaware.
In 2016, 555 riders died in motorcycle accidents in Florida.
In 2016, 167 riders died in motorcycle accidents in Georgia.
In 2016, 24 riders died in motorcycle accidents Hawaii.
In 2016, 21 riders died in motorcycle accidents in Idaho.
In 2016, 139 riders died in motorcycle accidents in Illinois.
In 2016, 90 riders died in motorcycle accidents in Indiana.
In 2016, 55 riders died in motorcycle accidents in Iowa.
In 2016, 48 riders died in motorcycle accidents in Kansas.
In 2016, 107 riders died in motorcycle accidents in Kentucky.
In 2016, 88 riders died in motorcycle accidents in Louisiana.
In 2016, 18 riders died in motorcycle accidents in Maine.
In 2016, 71 riders died in motorcycle accidents in Maryland.
In 2016, 39 riders died in motorcycle accidents in Massachusetts.
In 2016, 141 riders died in motorcycle accidents in Michigan.
In 2016, 49 riders died in motorcycle accidents in Minnesota.
In 2016, 49 riders died in motorcycle accidents in Mississippi.
In 2016, 118 riders died in motorcycle accidents in Missouri.
In 2016, 16 riders died in motorcycle accidents in Montana.
In 2016, 19 riders died in motorcycle accidents in Nebraska.
In 2016, 73 riders died in motorcycle accidents in Nevada.
In 2016, 17 riders died in motorcycle accidents in New Hampshire.
In 2016, 69 riders died in motorcycle accidents in New Jersey.
In 2016, 42 riders died in motorcycle accidents in New Mexico.
In 2016, 128 riders died in motorcycle accidents in New York.
In 2016, 176 riders died in motorcycle accidents in North Carolina.
In 2016, 12 riders died in motorcycle accidents in North Dakota.
In 2016, 178 riders died in motorcycle accidents in Ohio.
In 2016, 81 riders died in motorcycle accidents in Oklahoma.
In 2016, 51 riders died in motorcycle accidents in Oregon.
In 2016, 174 riders died in motorcycle accidents in Pennsylvania.
In 2016, 4 riders died in motorcycle accidents in Rhode Island.
In 2016, 168 riders died in motorcycle accidents in South Carolina.
In 2016, 21 riders died in motorcycle accidents in South Dakota.
In 2016, 135 riders died in motorcycle accidents in Tennessee.
In 2016, 458 riders died in motorcycle accidents in Texas.
In 2016, 39 riders died in motorcycle accidents in Utah.
In 2016, 10 riders died in motorcycle accidents in Vermont.
In 2016, 78 riders died in motorcycle accidents in Virginia.
In 2016, 78 riders died in motorcycle accidents in Washington.
In 2016, 6 riders died in motorcycle accidents in Washington, D.C.
In 2016, 26 riders died in motorcycle accidents in West Virginia.
In 2016, 79 riders died in motorcycle accidents in Wisconsin.
In 2016, 21 riders died in motorcycle accidents in Wyoming.
