10 California Motorcycle Accident Statistics (Updated in 2024)
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Note: This article’s statistics come from third-party sources and do not represent the opinions of this website.
California is the mecca of American motorcycle riding. The favorable climate, stunning views, and historic roads draw motorcyclists nationwide. These factors have driven up the number of registered motorcycles in California to historic levels but have also increased the rate of motorcycle accidents.
People often dream about riding up California’s historic oceanside highways or trekking from Chicago to L.A. on Route 66, but motorcycles can be dangerous. Motorcycle accidents happen frequently, and they usually result in severe injury or death. Here are California’s motorcycle accident statistics analyzed for this year.
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The 10 California Motorcycle Accident Statistics
- California has the most motorcycle registrations out of any state with 785,424.
- 88% of California motorcycle accidents result in a reported injury or death.
- California averages over 500 motorcycle fatalities each year, which makes it one of the two most dangerous states for such accidents.
- In 2019, the most recent data set publicly available, there were 474 motorcycle fatalities in California.
- The number of motorcycle fatalities in 2019 reflected an average 9.4% annual decrease since 2015.
- In 2019, 28 deaths were reported from not wearing a helmet, compared to 2018 with 34 deaths.
- Only 6% of motorcycle fatalities are attributed to riders not wearing a helmet.
- Summer is the most dangerous season for motorcycle riders in California.
- On average, only 5% of motorcycle accidents resulting in injury result in a fatality.
- According to CHP, in 2017, there were 13,907 motorcycle accidents resulting in an injury.
General Statistics
1. California has the most motorcycle registrations out of any state with 785,424.
(Statista)
California has the largest number of registered motorcycles out of any state in the United States. This is true for two primary reasons. First, California has the largest number of people, making its status as the leader in motorcycle registrations unsurprising. Second, California has a climate that is ideal for motorcycle riders.
The weather is generally mild and dry across the state, and the roads include famous motorcycle routes. California has scenic ocean highways, hilly mountain roads, and famous landmarks sprinkled throughout.
2. 88% of California motorcycle accidents result in a reported injury or death.
(California Highway Patrol)
Due to the nature of motorcycles, accidents often result in injuries or death. Motorcycles have much lower safety ratings than traditional sedans. Riders are exposed to the air and do not have seatbelts to keep them secure in the case of a crash. Any accidents involving a motorcycle, even minor ones, can lead to injuries for the riders of the motorcycles.
According to the public data provided by the California Highway Patrol, over 80% of all motorcycle accidents lead to injury or death—a much higher rate than for a typical car.
3. California averages over 500 motorcycle fatalities each year, which makes it one of the two most dangerous states for such accidents
(Governor’s Highway Safety Association)
In terms of the number of fatalities, California annually ranks in the top two. Florida is the only other state competing with California for the highest number of motorcycle fatalities.
Florida has the second-highest number of motorcycle registrations after California and also features a climate conducive to year-round riding. The high number of fatalities in California is directly derived from the number of motorcycles on the roads.
4. In 2019, the most recent data set publicly available, there were 474 motorcycle fatalities in California.
(California Office of Traffic Safety)
The most recent data from the California Office of Traffic Safety put the number of motorcycle fatalities at 474. More recent data has not yet been made publicly available. Close to 500 fatalities are alarming, but the numbers have been trending downwards in recent years.
5. The number of motorcycle fatalities in 2019 reflected an average 9.4% annual decrease since 2015.
(California Office of Traffic Safety)
According to data compiled and compared from the past 5 years, from 2015 to 2019, California is seeing a decrease in motorcycle fatalities year-over-year.
The reduction has been welcomed by regulators and riders alike. The factors contributing to the decrease in fatalities are awareness on the roads and much higher use of helmets, regulated by law, than in the past.
The Importance of Helmets
6. In 2019, 28 deaths were reported from not wearing a helmet, compared to 2018 with 34 deaths.
(California Office of Traffic Safety)
Of all the fatalities reported in California in 2019, only 28 deaths were due to a lack of a proper helmet. This number says two things about motorcycle accidents in the state. First, it shows that many riders comply with state law and wear helmets. Second, it highlights that even while wearing a helmet, many motorcycle accidents are life-changing.
Like the overall fatalities, the number of deaths attributed to not wearing a helmet is also falling. That is good news for lawmakers who say wearing a helmet leads to much higher safety ratings than not wearing one. The drop of 18% from 2019 to 2018 is an encouraging sign. Ideally, no road deaths will be linked to not wearing a helmet or a seatbelt one day.
7. Only 6% of motorcycle fatalities are attributed to riders not wearing a helmet.
(California Office of Traffic Safety)
This data translates to yet another encouraging statistic. Out of the 474 reported deaths in 2019, only 6% were attributed to improper helmet compliance. The goal is to get that number to zero.
Wearing a helmet is much safer than not wearing a helmet. If riders in California continue to comply with the state regulations, the number of deaths from not wearing a helmet will continue to fall.
California Motorcycle Accident Trends
8. Summer is the most dangerous season for motorcycle riders in California.
(California Highway Patrol)
Out of all the seasons throughout the year, summer is the most dangerous for motorcyclists. June, July, and August have the highest number of accidents and fatalities. These figures reflect the tourist season in California, which draws thousands of motorcycle-riding Americans from across the nation each year.
It also reflects the most popular time to ride. Riders enjoy the sun, the warmth, and the blue skies that come with California summers. More bikes on the road translate to more accidents.
9. On average, only 5% of motorcycle accidents resulting in injury result in a fatality.
(The Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System)
In California, a motorcycle accident has a 5% chance of also featuring a fatality. This number is taken straight from the data. For some, that figure will be alarming.
A 5% fatality rate in these situations means that a rider who gets in an accident resulting in injury has a 1 in 20 chance of being killed. Again, this is largely due to the safety ratings of motorcycles, which are far lower than typical sedans.
10. According to CHP, in 2017, there were 13,907 motorcycle accidents resulting in an injury.
(The Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System)
The Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System periodically releases detailed information about accidents in California. Their last batch of information was dropped in 2017. That dataset included the total number of motorcycle accidents that resulted in an injury, 13,907.
That is the number used by the California Highway Patrol to calculate the percentage of accidents that result in an injury. While these numbers are lower than standard cars, the percentage of accidents resulting in injuries is far higher.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common cause of motorcycle accidents?
Sadly, the most common cause of motorcycle accidents is drivers who don’t see the motorcycles on the road. When a car strikes a motorcycle, the driver usually says they never saw the other vehicle. There have been national campaigns to address this issue, including “Check Twice For Motorcycles” and the “Stay Alert, Stay Alive” campaigns.
Campaigns like these aim to raise awareness about the issue. They argue if more people were more alert for motorcycles, fewer would get missed, and the number of dangerous accidents would fall.
What percentage of motorcyclists get in accidents each year?
Of the nearly 800,000 registered motorcycles in California, roughly 2% get in an accident yearly. If we take the average number of motorcycle accidents, roughly 16,000 per year, and divide that into the total number of registered bikes, we get 2%.
That is not a huge number, but it still gives the average motorcycle rider a 1 in 50 chance of getting into an accident each year.
How does California rank in terms of motorcycle risk?
In terms of raw numbers, California is the state with the highest number of motorcycle accidents. However, they also have the largest population out of any state and the most motorcycle registrations. Florida comes in a close second in terms of registrations and accidents.
In terms of weighted risk, California ranks in the bottom third. The number of motorcycles on the road and better awareness have decreased the likelihood of being a victim of a fatal accident in California. Some states, such as Mississippi, Tennessee, and Alabama, have higher fatality rates per capita. That is due in part to factors such as lack of awareness, bad weather, and mountainous roads.
Conclusion
Rates of fatal traffic accidents involving motorcycles have been slowly falling in recent years in California, but the numbers are still high enough to be of concern. The prevalence of helmets has helped reduce the number of serious accidents, but over 80% of motorcycle accidents still result in injuries or death.
Knowing the risks and the stats is crucial if you plan on taking to the road on your bike. Always wear a helmet, and stay alert. Remember that the roads are most dangerous during the packed summer months. This knowledge could be the difference between life and death in certain situations.
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Featured Image Credit: Godlikeart, Shutterstock
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