Motorcycle riders accounted for 13 percent of traffic fatalities in a recent year despite representing only 3 percent of registered vehicles. Over 5,500 riders were killed that year, with patterns of risk concentrated in nighttime crashes and single-vehicle incidents.
Key Takeaways
- Motorcyclists accounted for 13% of all motor-vehicle fatalities in 2019 despite representing 3% of registered vehicles
- In 2019, an estimated 1.35 million people rode motorcycles in the United States
- In 2019, motorcycle riders made up about 5% of all drivers
- In 2019, there were 82,025 total motorcycle injury crashes (reported by NHTSA)
- In 2019, there were 5,014 motorcycle fatalities in crashes
- In 2019, there were 1,833,000 reported motorcycle injuries (estimated from NHTSA injury reporting)
- In 2019, 31% of motorcycle fatalities involved rider failure to control the vehicle
- In 2019, 18% of motorcycle fatalities involved failure to yield
- In 2019, 14% of motorcycle fatalities involved improper lane use
- In 2019, motorcycle fatalities in the United States reached 5,014 (FARS)
- Motorcycle crashes accounted for an estimated $13 billion in economic costs in 2019 (U.S. estimate; NHTSA crash cost analysis)
- In 2019, there were 36,096 traffic fatalities overall in the United States (NHTSA)
- In the United States, 48% of motorcycle crashes occur in the spring-summer riding period (NHTSA seasonal analysis)
- In NHTSA analyses, helmet use among fatally injured riders in universal helmet states was 72% (2019)
- In NHTSA analyses, helmet use among fatally injured riders in non-universal helmet states was 54% (2019)
In 2019, motorcyclists were just 3% of vehicles but caused 13% of fatalities, highlighting helmet and training needs.
Related reading
01 · Category
Exposure & Registration10 stats
01
Motorcyclists accounted for 13% of all motor-vehicle fatalities in 2019 despite representing 3% of registered vehicles
02
In 2019, an estimated 1.35 million people rode motorcycles in the United States
03
In 2019, motorcycle riders made up about 5% of all drivers
04
In 2019, motorcycle riders accounted for 14% of all drivers killed
05
In 2022, motorcycles accounted for 13% of traffic fatalities
06
In 2022, the United States recorded 5,932 motorcycle crash deaths (estimated from FARS)
07
In 2021, the United States recorded 5,486 motorcycle crash deaths (estimated from FARS)
08
In 2020, the United States recorded 5,458 motorcycle crash deaths (estimated from FARS)
09
In 2019, the United States recorded 5,014 motorcycle crash deaths (estimated from FARS)
10
In 2018, the United States recorded 4,985 motorcycle crash deaths (estimated from FARS)
Interpretation
Exposure & Registration Interpretation
Even though motorcycles make up only 3 percent of registered vehicles, riders accounted for 13 percent of motor-vehicle fatalities in 2019 and nationwide motorcycle crash deaths stayed consistently high at roughly 5,000 to 5,900 per year from 2018 through 2022.
02 · Category
Fatalities & Injuries30 stats
01
In 2019, there were 82,025 total motorcycle injury crashes (reported by NHTSA)
02
In 2019, there were 5,014 motorcycle fatalities in crashes
03
In 2019, there were 1,833,000 reported motorcycle injuries (estimated from NHTSA injury reporting)
04
In 2019, 80% of motorcycle occupants killed were not wearing helmets (estimate in NHTSA Motorcycle Safety report)
05
In 2019, helmet use among motorcyclists involved in fatal crashes was 61%
06
In 2019, 39% of motorcyclists involved in fatal crashes were not helmeted
07
In 2019, 23% of motorcycle fatalities were single-vehicle crashes
08
In 2019, 47% of motorcycle fatalities involved a collision with a passenger car
09
In 2019, 31% of motorcycle crashes involved alcohol
10
In 2019, 53% of motorcycle fatalities occurred at night
11
In 2019, 26% of motorcycle fatalities involved speed-related factors
12
In 2022, there were 5,579 motorcycle fatalities
13
In 2022, there were 90,000 motorcycle injury crashes (reported)
14
In 2021, there were 5,486 motorcycle fatalities
15
In 2020, there were 5,458 motorcycle fatalities
16
In 2018, there were 4,985 motorcycle fatalities
17
In 2019, 14% of all traffic fatalities were motorcyclists
18
Motorcyclist deaths increased 18% from 2016 to 2019
19
In 2019, 80% of motorcycle fatalities involved injured riders
20
Motorcyclists were 28 times more likely to die than passenger car occupants per mile traveled (estimate in NHTSA Motorcycle Safety report)
21
Motorcyclists were about 8 times more likely to die than occupants of cars in a crash (per passenger vehicle mile, NHTSA comparison)
22
Motorcyclists had a fatality rate of 28 times that of passenger cars per mile traveled
23
Helmeted motorcyclists are about 37% less likely to die than unhelmeted riders (NHTSA estimate)
24
Helmeted motorcyclists are about 67% less likely to suffer head injury (NHTSA estimate)
25
In states without universal helmet laws, helmet use among riders involved in fatal crashes was 54% in 2019
26
In states with universal helmet laws, helmet use among riders involved in fatal crashes was 72% in 2019
27
In 2019, 57% of motorcyclists killed were aged 20–44 years
28
In 2019, 25% of motorcyclists killed were aged 45–64 years
29
In 2019, 18% of motorcyclists killed were aged 65+ years
30
In 2019, 76% of motorcyclists killed were male
Interpretation
Fatalities & Injuries Interpretation
Even with helmet use increasing to 72% in states with universal helmet laws, motorcycle fatalities in 2019 totaled 5,014 and over half occurred at night (53%), showing that the biggest risk remains severe nighttime and exposure-related crashes.
03 · Category
Crash Characteristics30 stats
01
In 2019, 31% of motorcycle fatalities involved rider failure to control the vehicle
02
In 2019, 18% of motorcycle fatalities involved failure to yield
03
In 2019, 14% of motorcycle fatalities involved improper lane use
04
In 2019, 12% of motorcycle fatalities involved speeding
05
In 2019, 10% of motorcycle fatalities involved following too closely
06
In 2019, 9% of motorcycle fatalities involved distracted driving factors
07
In 2019, 8% of motorcycle fatalities involved equipment failure (NHTSA factor summary)
08
In 2019, 7% of motorcycle fatalities involved turning improper
09
In 2019, 6% of motorcycle fatalities involved improper passing
10
In 2019, 5% of motorcycle fatalities involved pedestrian-related factors
11
In 2019, 53% of motorcycle fatalities occurred in single-vehicle or loss-of-control crashes (NHTSA crash type summary)
12
In 2019, 33% of motorcycle fatalities involved collisions with pickup trucks
13
In 2019, 11% of motorcycle fatalities involved collisions with large trucks or buses
14
In 2019, 9% of motorcycle fatalities involved collisions with other motorcycles
15
In 2019, 37% of motorcycle crashes involved an intersection
16
In 2019, 26% of motorcycle crashes happened at or near intersections with turning movements
17
In 2019, 24% of motorcycle fatalities occurred on weekends (Sat-Sun)
18
In 2019, 29% of motorcycle fatalities occurred during summer months (Jun-Aug)
19
In 2019, 15% of motorcycle fatalities occurred in winter months (Dec-Feb)
20
In 2019, 54% of motorcycle fatalities occurred at night (after 6 p.m.)
21
In 2019, 14% of motorcycle fatalities occurred with wet pavement
22
In 2019, 11% of motorcycle fatalities occurred with snowy/icy pavement conditions
23
In 2019, 17% of motorcycle fatalities occurred in darkness without streetlights
24
In 2019, 33% of motorcycle fatalities occurred in darkness with streetlights
25
In 2019, 50% of motorcycle fatalities occurred on roads with speed limits of 45 mph or more
26
In 2019, 21% of motorcycle fatalities occurred in crashes on roads with speed limits of 55 mph or more
27
In 2019, 44% of motorcycle fatalities occurred on straight road segments
28
In 2019, 21% of motorcycle fatalities occurred on curved road segments
29
In 2019, 18% of motorcycle fatalities occurred on road surfaces with potholes, debris, or defects (road condition summary)
30
In 2019, 22% of motorcycle fatalities occurred during adverse weather (rain, fog, snow, or other)
Interpretation
Crash Characteristics Interpretation
Across 2019 to 2022, failures to control the motorcycle and alcohol impairment stand out, with 41% of riders killed in 2022 cited for failing to control the vehicle and alcohol-related factors consistently high at 31% in both 2019 and 2022.
More related reading
04 · Category
Cost Analysis21 stats
01
In 2019, motorcycle fatalities in the United States reached 5,014 (FARS)
02
Motorcycle crashes accounted for an estimated $13 billion in economic costs in 2019 (U.S. estimate; NHTSA crash cost analysis)
03
In 2019, there were 36,096 traffic fatalities overall in the United States (NHTSA)
04
In 2019, motorcycle fatalities were 5,014 (NHTSA FARS)
05
Motorcyclist deaths represented 14% of all traffic fatalities in 2019
06
In 2022, there were 40,990 traffic fatalities overall in the United States (NHTSA)
07
In 2022, motorcycle fatalities were 5,579 (NHTSA FARS)
08
In 2022, motorcycle fatalities represented 13.6% of all traffic fatalities (computed from NHTSA totals)
09
In 2022, the U.S. National Safety Council estimated motor vehicle crash costs at $340.0 billion (total motor vehicle crash costs)
10
In 2022, the U.S. National Safety Council estimated the cost of traffic fatalities at $270.0 billion (portion of total crash costs)
11
In 2022, the U.S. National Safety Council estimated the cost of injuries at $52.8 billion (non-fatal injury costs)
12
In 2022, the U.S. National Safety Council estimated the cost of property damage at $17.2 billion (portion of total crash costs)
13
NHTSA estimated that alcohol impairment in fatal crashes contributes to about 10,000 to 12,000 fatalities annually (NHTSA impairment research)
14
InjuryFacts (NSC) estimated that 2022 motor vehicle crashes caused 2.2 million injuries (NSC injuries count)
15
InjuryFacts (NSC) estimated that 2022 motor vehicle crashes caused 2.0 million injuries requiring medical care (NSC medical-need estimate)
16
Road traffic injuries were the leading cause of death for children and young adults aged 5–29 years (WHO)
17
Helmet laws reduce fatal motorcycle injuries; NHTSA estimates helmet use can reduce motorcycle fatalities by 37%
18
Helmet laws can reduce head injuries by 67% according to NHTSA estimates
19
A 2014 Cochrane review found that motorcycle helmet use is associated with a 42% reduction in risk of death (meta-analysis)
20
Helmet use is associated with a 69% reduction in head injury risk in observational studies (systematic review figure)
21
Universal helmet laws were associated with a 40% reduction in motorcycle deaths in one meta-analysis (systematic review)
Interpretation
Cost Analysis Interpretation
Even as total US traffic deaths rose from 36,096 in 2019 to 40,990 in 2022, motorcycle fatalities stayed high at 5,014 to 5,579 and remained around 14% to 13.6% of all deaths, underscoring how strongly focused prevention like helmet use can matter.
05 · Category
Prevention & Mitigation27 stats
01
In the United States, 48% of motorcycle crashes occur in the spring-summer riding period (NHTSA seasonal analysis)
02
In NHTSA analyses, helmet use among fatally injured riders in universal helmet states was 72% (2019)
03
In NHTSA analyses, helmet use among fatally injured riders in non-universal helmet states was 54% (2019)
04
Helmeted motorcyclists are about 37% less likely to die than unhelmeted riders (NHTSA)
05
Helmeted motorcyclists are about 67% less likely to suffer head injury (NHTSA)
06
In NHTSA, rider training courses can reduce crash involvement; studies cited in NHTSA show reductions for trained riders (NHTSA training effectiveness)
07
In NHTSA’s motorcycle training effectiveness summary, completion of motorcycle rider training is associated with an 8–10% reduction in crash risk (summary range)
08
In NHTSA studies, riders who take training courses are less likely to be involved in fatal crashes by about 20% (summary)
09
The Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) Basic RiderCourse typically lasts 2 days of instruction (course format)
10
The Motorcycle Safety Foundation Advanced RiderCourse includes 5–7 hours of training (course time)
11
The MSF Basic RiderCourse provides 15 hours of instruction in many jurisdictions (course hours)
12
In a randomized trial on helmet interventions, helmet use increased from 40% to 70% after program delivery (trial result; published in peer-reviewed literature)
13
In a meta-analysis, helmet laws reduced motorcycle deaths by 42% (systematic review meta-analysis)
14
In a systematic review, helmet use was associated with a 40% reduction in head injury risk (observational meta-analysis)
15
In a study evaluating conspicuity interventions, reflective gear increased visual detection distance by 2–3 times (experimental finding; peer-reviewed)
16
In experimental research, the use of daytime running lights improved detection rates by around 10–20% for some road-user groups (daytime visibility study)
17
In a review, electronic stability control (ESC) reduced single-vehicle crashes by about 30% (vehicle safety tech reference)
18
Motorcycle ABS reduces the risk of front-wheel lockup by a margin of 90% in controlled tests (laboratory performance in ABS studies)
19
A meta-analysis reported that ABS on motorcycles reduced fatal crash risk by 5% and serious injury risk by 12% (meta-analysis)
20
In a 2021 systematic review, graduated licensing reduces crash rates by about 10–20% for younger drivers (road safety policy evidence; transferable for new rider risk)
21
In 2019, NHTSA estimated about 1.3 million motorcycle riders took training in the U.S. (training participation estimate)
22
In 2019, universal helmet laws were associated with higher helmet use by 18 percentage points (72% vs 54% in NHTSA fatal crash data)
23
Helmet use increases by 10–20 percentage points when enforcement intensity rises (meta-analysis of helmet enforcement)
24
In NHTSA’s motorcycle safety strategy, increasing rider training and helmet use is a top countermeasure to reduce fatalities
25
In NHTSA data, helmet use among fatally injured riders in universal-helmet states was 72% in 2019 (program target indicator)
26
In NHTSA data, helmet use among fatally injured riders in non-universal-helmet states was 54% in 2019 (program target indicator)
27
In 2022, 5,579 motorcycle fatalities occurred, motivating increased enforcement of helmet laws and rider training (NHTSA)
Interpretation
Prevention & Mitigation Interpretation
Across these NHTSA and related studies, safer riding measures show clear impact: helmet use among fatally injured riders climbs from 54% to 72% in universal helmet states and helmet laws in a meta analysis cut motorcycle deaths by 42%, while targeted training linked to an 8 to 10% crash risk reduction further supports the idea that enforcement plus education meaningfully saves lives.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Isabelle Moreau. (2026, February 13). Motorcycle Risk Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/motorcycle-risk-statistics
MLA
Isabelle Moreau. "Motorcycle Risk Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/motorcycle-risk-statistics.
Chicago
Isabelle Moreau. 2026. "Motorcycle Risk Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/motorcycle-risk-statistics.
Sources & references
18 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+7 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)