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Facts + Statistics: Motorcycle crashes

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By their design, motorcycles are far less crash-worthy (i.e., resistant to the effects of collision) than closed vehicles. Motorcyclists and their passengers are more vulnerable to the hazards of weather and road conditions than drivers in closed vehicles. They are also less visible to other drivers and pedestrians and less stable than four-wheel vehicles. Additionally, motorcycle operation requires a different combination of physical and mental skills than those used in driving cars and trucks.

Motorcycle Helmet Use, 2000-2023 (1)

 

Year Percent Year Percent
2000 71% 2018 71%
2005 48 2019 71
2010 54 2020 69
2015 61 2021 65
2016 65 2022 67
2017 65 2023 74

(1) Based on surveys of motorcyclists using helmets meeting Department of Transportation standards. Surveys conducted in October for 1996-2000 and in June thereafter.

Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, National Occupant Protection Use Survey, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's National Center for Statistics and Analysis.

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Motorcyclist Fatalities And Fatality Rates, 2013-2022

 

Year Fatalities Registered
motorcycles		 Fatality rate per 100,000
registered motorcycles		 Vehicle miles
traveled (millions)		 Fatality rate
per 100 million
vehicle miles traveled
2013 4,692 8,404,687 55.83 20,366 23.04
2014 4,594 8,417,718 54.58 19,970 23.00
2015 5,029 8,600,936 58.47 19,606 25.65
2016 5,337 8,679,380 61.49 20,445 26.10
2017 5,226 8,664,108 60.32 20,149 25.94
2018 5,038 8,659,741 58.18 20,076 25.09
2019 5,044 8,596,314 58.68 19,688 25.62
2020 (1) 5,620 8,347,435 67.33 17,947 31.31
2021 6,143 9,795,491 62.71 19,642 31.27
2022 (2) 6,218 9,567,664 64.99 23,765 26.16

(1) Due to a vehicle classification change, the 2020 and later year data are not comparable to 2019 and earlier years.
(2) Starting in 2022, motorcyclists exclude people on motorized bicycles.

Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; Federal Highway Administration.

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Motorcyclist Injuries And Injury Rates, 2013-2022

 

Year Injuries Registered
motorcycles		 Injury rate per 100,000
registered motorcycles		 Vehicle miles
traveled (millions)		 Injury rate
per 100 million
vehicle miles traveled
2013 88,760 8,404,687 1,056 20,366 436
2014 91,987 8,417,718 1,093 19,970 461
2015 88,738 8,600,936 1,032 19,606 453
2016 (1) 104,442 8,679,380 1,203 20,445 511
2017 88,592 8,664,108 1,023 20,149 440
2018 81,859 8,659,741 945 20,076 408
2019 83,814 8,596,314 975 19,688 426
2020 (2) 80,662 8,347,435 966 17,947 449
2021 84,898 9,795,491 867 19,642 432
2022 (3) 82,687 9,567,664 864 23,765 348

(1) NHTSA began using police-reported crash data from the Crash Report Sampling System, replacing the National Automotive Sampling System General Estimates System (GES). NCSA has also changed the methodology of estimating people nonfatally injured in motor vehicle traffic crashes.
(2) Due to a vehicle classification change, the 2020 and later year data are not comparable to 2019 and earlier years.
(3) Starting in 2022, motorcyclists exclude people on motorized bicycles.

Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; Federal Highway Administration.

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Occupant Fatality Rates By Vehicle Type, 2013 and 2022

 

  Motorcycles (1) Light trucks Passenger cars
2013      
     Per 100,000 registered vehicles 55.83 7.62 9.34
     Per 100 million vehicle miles traveled 23.04 0.71 0.87
2022      
     Per 100,000 registered vehicles 64.99 7.31 12.13
     Per 100 million vehicle miles traveled 26.16 0.72 1.20
Percent change, 2013-2022      
     Per 100,000 registered vehicles 16.4% -4.1% 29.9%
     Per 100 million vehicle miles traveled 13.5% 1.4% 37.9%

(1) Beginning in 2022, operators and passengers of motorized bicycles are captured as pedalcyclists when involved in a motor vehicle traffic crash.

Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 

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Motorcyclists Killed, By Time Of Day And Day Of Week, 2022

 

  Day of week
  Weekday Weekend Total (1)
Motorcyclists killed Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent
Midnight to 3 am 216 6.5% 317 11.1% 533 8.6%
3 am to 6 am 121 3.6 110 3.8 231 3.7
6 am to 9 am 290 8.7 81 2.8 371 6.0
9 am to Noon 311 9.3 202 7.0 513 8.3
Noon to 3 pm 538 16.1 405 14.1 943 15.2
3 pm to 6 pm 794 23.7 495 17.3 1,289 20.7
6 pm to 9 pm 626 18.7 740 25.8 1,366 22.0
9 pm to Midnight 431 12.9 499 17.4 930 15.0
Unknown 18 0.5 17 0.6 42 0.7
Total (2) 3,345 100.0% 2,866 100.0% 6,218 100.0%

(1) Includes motorcyclists killed on unknown day of week.  
(2) Beginning in 2022, operators and passengers of motorized bicycles are captured as pedalcyclists when involved in a motor vehicle traffic crash.

Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Safety Administration.

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Vehicles Involved In Fatal Crashes By Vehicle Type, 2013 And 2022

 

  2013 2022
Passenger cars    
Involved in crashes 17,957 20,049
Rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled 1.30 1.89
Rate per 100,000 registered vehicles 13.93 19.16
Light trucks (1)    
Involved in crashes 16,928 25,807
Rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled 1.31 1.46
Rate per 100,000 registered vehicles 14.05 14.83
Motorcycles (2)    
Involved in crashes 4,800 6,359
Rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled 23.57 26.76
Rate per 100,000 registered vehicles 57.11 66.46

(1) Trucks with 10,000 pounds or less gross vehicle weight. Includes pickups, vans, truck-based station wagons and utility vehicles.
(2) Beginning in 2022, operators and passengers of motorized bicycles are captured as pedalcyclists when involved in a motor vehicle traffic crash.

Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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Persons Killed In Total And Alcohol-Impaired Crashes By Person Type, 2022

 

    Alcohol-impaired crash fatalities (1)
Person type Total killed Number Percent of
total killed
Vehicle occupants      
     Driver 20,908 7,580 36%
     Passenger 6,393 2,144 34
     Unknown occupant 43 4 10
     Total 27,344 9,729 36%
Motorcyclists (2) 6,218 2,160 35%
Nonoccupants      
     Pedestrian 7,522 1,394 19
     Pedalcyclist 1,105 177 16
     Other/unknown 325 64 20
     Total 8,952 1,635 18%
Total 42,514 13,524 32%

(1) Alcohol-impaired driving crashes are crashes that involve at least one driver or a motorcycle operator with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 grams per deciliter or greater, the legal definition of alcohol-impaired driving.
(2) Beginning in 2022, operators and passengers of motorized bicycles are captured as pedalcyclists when involved in a motor vehicle traffic crash.

Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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Drivers In Fatal Crashes By Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) And Vehicle Type, 2013-2022 (1)

 

  Passenger car Light truck Large truck Motorcycles
    Percent   Percent   Percent   Percent
Year Total BAC = 0.01+ BAC = 0.08+ Total BAC = 0.01+ BAC = 0.08+ Total BAC = 0.01+ BAC = 0.08+ Total BAC = 0.01+ BAC = 0.08+
2013 17,850 27% 23% 16,810 25% 21% 3,872 4% 2% 4,795 35% 27%
2014 17,802 26 22 17,040 25 22 3,701 3 2 4,703 37 29
2015 19,688 25 21 18,763 24 21 4,019 2 1 5,126 34 26
2016 20,730 24 21 19,951 23 20 4,152 3 2 5,414 32 25
2017 20,895 24 21 19,847 23 20 4,600 4 3 5,316 35 27
2018 20,175 24 21 19,663 22 19 4,786 5 3 5,108 33 25
2019 19,469 24 20 19,704 22 19 4,949 3 2 5,111 36 29
2020 20,742 26 23 20,402 23 19 4,778 4 3 5,711 34 27
2021 20,959 28 24 25,525 23 20 5,634 5 3 6,080 35 28
2022 19,889 29 25 25,613 25 21 5,760 5 3 6,349 36 28

(1) NHTSA estimates alcohol involvement when alcohol test results are unknown.
(2) Beginning in 2022, operators and passengers of motorized bicycles are captured as pedalcyclists when involved in a motor vehicle traffic crash.

Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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Background on: Motorcycle crashes