Motorcycle accident statistics (U.S., 2023)
2023 saw the highest number of motorcyclist deaths ever recorded in the U.S. Riders account for a small share of miles traveled but a large share of fatalities, because a motorcycle offers little protection in a crash. All figures below are from NHTSA.
A record year, and a large per-mile risk
NHTSA recorded 6,335 motorcyclist deaths in 2023 — the most ever, and up 26% since 2019. Riders made up about 15% of all traffic deaths. Per mile traveled, the motorcyclist fatality rate was 31.39 per 100 million vehicle miles, versus 1.13 for passenger-car occupants — roughly 28 times higher. Source: NHTSA, 2023.
Helmets and helmet laws
| Helmet effectiveness (rider) | 37% at preventing death |
|---|---|
| Helmet effectiveness (passenger) | 41% at preventing death |
| Killed riders unhelmeted — non-universal-law states (2023) | 51% |
| Killed riders unhelmeted — universal-law states (2023) | 10% |
| Alcohol-impaired riders in fatal single-vehicle crashes (2023) | 41% |
All figures in the table above are from NHTSA's 2023 motorcycle traffic-safety facts. The gap between universal-law and non-universal-law states is one of the starkest patterns in the data.
Related road-safety statistics
- Car accident statistics — the overall national picture.
- DUI / drunk-driving statistics — alcohol's role across all crash types.
- Pedestrian accident statistics — another vulnerable road-user group.
Frequently asked questions
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Sources
Track road safety where you ride
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