Road Users

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, 18% of all occupant fatalities, and 4% of all occupant injuries in 2020. A factor that directly influences motorcycle fatality trends is helmet use. (Explore helmet use trends.)

Fatalities among motorcycle riders and passengers increased 11% from 2019 to 2020, while the rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled increased by 23%. Over the last 10 years, deaths have increased 20% while death rates have increased 27%.  The number of motorcycle fatalities now stands at 5,579 and the rate is 31.64 per 100 million vehicle miles. In 2020 motorcycle riders involved in fatal crashes had higher percentages of alcohol impairment than drivers of any other motor vehicle type (27% for motorcycles, 23% for passenger cars, 19% for light trucks, and 3% for trucks).

The number of nonfatal injuries decreased by 2%, while the injury rate increased by 10% from 2019 to 2020. Longer term nonfatal injury trends cannot be assessed. 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 21%, while the injury rate has decreased 8%. However, the injury rate has been trending up for the last two years.

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

Motorcycle exposure or use trends have been mixed from 2007 to 2020. Although the number of registered motorcycles has increased 17% from 2007 to 2020, the number of vehicle miles driven has decreased 18.0% from 2007 to 2020. More recently, the number of registered motorcycles have also started to decrease (5% since 2017). This 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.

The infographic highlights a few key motorcycle fatality trends for 2020. The majority of motorcyclist fatalities occurred:

• On urban roads (60%)
• In good weather (78%)
• During daylight conditions (50%)
• In crashes involving two vehicles (52%)
• When wearing helmets (58%)

In addition, 73% of the motorcycle operators involved in fatal crashes were NOT alcohol-impaired.

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