Although motorcycles make up only 3% of all registered vehicles and 0.6% of all vehicle miles traveled in the United States, motorcyclists accounted for 14% of all traffic fatalities, 17% of all occupant fatalities, and 3% of all occupant injuries in 2021. A factor that directly influences motorcycle fatality trends is helmet use. (Explore helmet use trends)

Fatalities among motorcycle riders and passengers increased 8% from 2020 to 2021, while the rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled decreased by 2%. Over the last 10 years, deaths have increased 19%, while death rates have increased 29%.  The number of motorcycle fatalities now stands at 5,932 and the rate is 30.05 per 100 million vehicle miles.

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The number of nonfatal injuries increased by 5%, while the injury rate decreased by 4% from 2020 to 2021. Starting in 2016, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) transitioned from the National Automotive Sampling System (NASS) General Estimates System (GES) to the Crash Report Sampling System (CRSS). CRSS estimates and NASS GES estimates are not comparable due to different sample designs, so 2016 and later injury estimates should not be compared to earlier years. From 2016, the number of injuries has decreased 20%, while the injury rate has decreased 17%.

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*2016 and later injury estimates are not comparable to previous years.

Motorcycle exposure or use trends have been mixed from 2007 to 2021. Although the number of registered motorcycles has increased 38% from 2007 to 2021, the number of vehicle miles driven has decreased 8% from 2007 to 2021. More recently, the number of registered motorcycle miles driven decreased in 2020 and then rebounded strongly in 2021. The long term decrease in miles traveled explains how the fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles has increased at a faster pace than the number of deaths.

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The infographic highlights a few key motorcycle fatality trends for 2021. The majority of motorcyclist fatalities occurred:

  • On urban roads (67%)
  • In good weather (83%)
  • During the nighttime (50%)
  • In crashes involving two vehicles (53%)
  • When wearing helmets (59%)

In addition, 72% of the motorcycle operators involved in fatal crashes were NOT alcohol-impaired.

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Sources: National Safety Council (NSC) analysis of NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) data.

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