Motorcycle riding statistics at a glance
Motorcycle riding statistics in the U.S. point to a road-safety picture that is still getting worse at the top line, even as some details shift by age, season, time of day, roadway type, and helmet use.
Big number: U.S. motorcyclist deaths reached 6,335 in 2023, the highest number ever recorded (IIHS Motorcycles and ATVs; NHTSA Motorcycle Safety Month 2024).
Fast facts
- Motorcyclist deaths were 26% higher in 2023 than in 2019 (IIHS Motorcycles and ATVs).
- Motorcycle deaths accounted for 15% of all U.S. motor vehicle crash deaths in 2023 (IIHS Motorcycles and ATVs).
- NHTSA reported 82,564 motorcyclists injured in traffic crashes in 2023 (NHTSA Motorcycle Safety Month 2024).
- Motorcycle deaths in 2023 were about triple the number in 1997 (IIHS Motorcycles and ATVs).
- Motorcyclist fatalities rose from 3,180 in 1975 to 6,335 in 2023 (IIHS Motorcycles and ATVs).
Contents
- Motorcycle riding statistics and long-term trend
- Motorcycle fatality table by year
- Helmet use, alcohol, and rider protection
- Age, sex, and rider group patterns
- When motorcycle deaths happen most often
- Where motorcycle deaths happen
- Motorcycle riding statistics by bike type and engine size
- What the numbers suggest for riders and policymakers
Motorcycle riding statistics and long-term trend
The strongest pattern in the data is the long-run upward drift in fatal motorcycle crashes.
In 2023, the U.S. recorded 6,335 motorcyclist deaths, which was not just high in a one-year sense. It was the largest total in the dataset and the highest number ever recorded (IIHS Motorcycles and ATVs; NHTSA Motorcycle Safety Month 2024).
The curve behind that number matters as much as the number itself.
- Fatalities fell to 2,226 in 1995 before rising again to 6,335 in 2023 (IIHS Motorcycles and ATVs).
- Motorcyclist fatalities were 4,575 in 2005 and 5,026 in 2015 (IIHS Motorcycles and ATVs).
- The count reached 5,966 in 2022 and then moved up again in 2023 to 6,335 (IIHS Motorcycles and ATVs).
- Compared with 2019, motorcyclist deaths were 26% higher in 2023 (IIHS Motorcycles and ATVs).
The pattern is not a straight line. It shows a low point in the mid-1990s, a much higher plateau in the 2000s and 2010s, and a new peak in 2023 (IIHS Motorcycles and ATVs).
Why it matters
A long-term rise in fatalities changes how the data should be read.
It suggests the question is not simply whether motorcycle riding is risky. The more useful question is where the risk concentrates: which riders, which conditions, and which road environments are most strongly associated with fatal outcomes.
Motorcycle fatality table by year
The year-by-year figures show how the category moved across several reference points.
| Year | Motorcyclist fatalities | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 3,180 | IIHS Motorcycles and ATVs |
| 1995 | 2,226 | IIHS Motorcycles and ATVs |
| 2005 | 4,575 | IIHS Motorcycles and ATVs |
| 2015 | 5,026 | IIHS Motorcycles and ATVs |
| 2021 | 6,137 | IIHS Motorcycles and ATVs |
| 2022 | 5,966 | IIHS Motorcycles and ATVs |
| 2023 | 6,335 | IIHS Motorcycles and ATVs |
That table makes two things obvious.
First, the post-1995 period is clearly higher than the mid-1990s baseline. Second, the 2022-to-2023 change is notable because the total moved upward again after already being very high in 2022 (IIHS Motorcycles and ATVs).
Key takeaways from the trend line
- The 1995 low of 2,226 is far below the 2023 total of 6,335 (IIHS Motorcycles and ATVs).
- The 1975 count of 3,180 is also well below the 2023 figure, even before the most recent acceleration (IIHS Motorcycles and ATVs).
- The 2021 figure of 6,137 shows that the current era has been elevated for several years, not just one isolated year (IIHS Motorcycles and ATVs).
Helmet use, alcohol, and rider protection
Helmet use remains one of the clearest dividing lines in the supplied motorcycle riding statistics.
In 2023, 64% of fatally injured motorcycle drivers were helmeted, while 49% of fatally injured motorcycle passengers were helmeted (IIHS Motorcycles and ATVs).
Across all fatally injured motorcyclists in 2023, 3,989 were helmeted and 2,116 were not helmeted (IIHS Motorcycles and ATVs).
That split is important because it shows the category is not uniformly riding unprotected. Both helmeted and unhelmeted fatalities exist in substantial numbers, and the balance between those groups depends on the rider role and law environment.
Helmet law contrast
NHTSA’s helmet-law figures show a sharp split between states with and without universal helmet laws.
- In states without universal helmet laws, 51% of motorcyclists killed in 2023 were not wearing helmets (NHTSA Motorcycle Safety Month 2024).
- In states with universal helmet laws, 10% of motorcyclists killed in 2023 were not wearing helmets (NHTSA Motorcycle Safety Month 2024).
That is a very large gap, and it is one of the clearest policy-related contrasts in the dataset.
IIHS also reports helmeted and unhelmeted fatality counts by law environment:
- In universal-helmet-law states, 2,126 fatally injured motorcyclists were helmeted and 191 were not helmeted in 2023 (IIHS Motorcycles and ATVs).
- In states with no helmet law, 96 fatally injured motorcyclists were helmeted and 167 were not helmeted in 2023 (IIHS Motorcycles and ATVs).
Alcohol-impaired riding
Alcohol is another recurring factor in the dataset.
- Alcohol-impaired riders involved in fatal traffic crashes fell to 1,668 in 2023 from 1,772 in 2022 (NHTSA Motorcycle Safety Month 2024).
- 41% of riders who died in single-vehicle crashes in 2023 were alcohol impaired (NHTSA Motorcycle Safety Month 2024).
- In 2023, 1,584 fatally injured motorcycle drivers had BACs of at least 0.08% (IIHS Motorcycles and ATVs).
- In 2023, 962 fatally injured motorcycle drivers had BACs of at least 0.15% (IIHS Motorcycles and ATVs).
- In nighttime crashes, 730 fatally injured motorcycle drivers had BACs of at least 0.08% in 2023 (IIHS Motorcycles and ATVs).
The alcohol figures matter because they show impairment is not a marginal issue. It appears in thousands of fatal cases and is especially prominent in single-vehicle crashes and nighttime crashes (NHTSA Motorcycle Safety Month 2024; IIHS Motorcycles and ATVs).
Age, sex, and rider group patterns
The dataset includes a few demographic splits that help show who is most often represented in fatal outcomes.
Age
NHTSA reported that motorcyclist fatalities among ages 15 to 20 increased 44% to 505 in 2023 from 350 in 2022 (NHTSA Motorcycle Safety Month 2024).
That jump is notable for two reasons.
- It is a large percentage increase in one year.
- It shows that younger riders are part of the fatality burden, not only older or more experienced riders.
Sex
The sex split in the fatality counts is heavily skewed toward men.
- Of fatally injured motorcycle drivers in 2023, 5,795 were male and 228 were female (IIHS Motorcycles and ATVs).
- Of fatally injured motorcycle passengers in 2023, 29 were male and 281 were female (IIHS Motorcycles and ATVs).
- Of all fatally injured motorcyclists in 2023, 5,824 were male and 509 were female (IIHS Motorcycles and ATVs).
That distribution is useful because it shows the risk profile differs by rider role. Male riders dominate the driver side, while female fatalities are more concentrated among passengers in the supplied counts (IIHS Motorcycles and ATVs).
Quick demographic snapshot
| Group | 2023 figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Ages 15 to 20 fatalities | 505 | NHTSA Motorcycle Safety Month 2024 |
| Fatally injured motorcycle drivers, male | 5,795 | IIHS Motorcycles and ATVs |
| Fatally injured motorcycle drivers, female | 228 | IIHS Motorcycles and ATVs |
| Fatally injured motorcycle passengers, male | 29 | IIHS Motorcycles and ATVs |
| Fatally injured motorcycle passengers, female | 281 | IIHS Motorcycles and ATVs |
When motorcycle deaths happen most often
Seasonality is one of the most consistent patterns in motorcycle riding statistics.
Seasonal concentration
59% of motorcyclist deaths in 2023 occurred during May through September (IIHS Motorcycles and ATVs).
That means the majority of fatalities happened in the warmer half of the year, when riding is more common and roads are busier.
The monthly figures reinforce the pattern:
- July had 778 motorcyclist deaths, the monthly peak (IIHS Motorcycles and ATVs).
- August had 777 (IIHS Motorcycles and ATVs).
- September had 738 (IIHS Motorcycles and ATVs).
- June had 719 (IIHS Motorcycles and ATVs).
- April had 545 (IIHS Motorcycles and ATVs).
- January had 207, the monthly low (IIHS Motorcycles and ATVs).
Time-of-day pattern
The risk is also concentrated during certain hours.
- During 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends and weekdays combined, 1,445 motorcyclist deaths occurred in 2023 (IIHS Motorcycles and ATVs).
- During 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., 1,327 deaths occurred (IIHS Motorcycles and ATVs).
- During 9 p.m. to midnight, 995 deaths occurred (IIHS Motorcycles and ATVs).
- During midnight to 3 a.m., 489 deaths occurred (IIHS Motorcycles and ATVs).
This suggests a heavy concentration in late afternoon and evening hours, with a smaller but still meaningful share overnight (IIHS Motorcycles and ATVs).
Where motorcycle deaths happen
Road type and crash setting add another layer to the picture.
Roadway type
In 2023, motorcycle deaths were not confined to one type of road.
- 731 motorcyclist deaths occurred on interstates and freeways (IIHS Motorcycles and ATVs).
- 3,521 occurred on noninterstate major roads (IIHS Motorcycles and ATVs).
- 2,030 occurred on minor roads (IIHS Motorcycles and ATVs).
Noninterstate major roads accounted for the largest share of the roadway categories listed here. That matters because it points away from the assumption that the danger is mainly on high-speed freeways (IIHS Motorcycles and ATVs).
Urban and rural split
The urban-rural split also shows how widespread the issue is.
- 4,075 motorcyclist deaths occurred in urban crashes in 2023 (IIHS Motorcycles and ATVs).
- 2,224 occurred in rural crashes (IIHS Motorcycles and ATVs).
Urban crashes made up the larger share in the supplied dataset, which is another reminder that motorcycle fatalities are not only a rural-road problem.
Crash configuration
The crash-type split is close enough to be worth noting separately.
- 2,230 motorcyclist deaths occurred in single-vehicle crashes in 2023 (IIHS Motorcycles and ATVs).
- 4,105 motorcyclist deaths occurred in multiple-vehicle crashes (IIHS Motorcycles and ATVs).
Multiple-vehicle crashes made up the larger share, but single-vehicle crashes remain a major part of the fatality picture, and they connect closely with the alcohol-impaired rider data already noted above (IIHS Motorcycles and ATVs; NHTSA Motorcycle Safety Month 2024).
Motorcycle riding statistics by bike type and engine size
The supplied data also breaks out fatal cases by motorcycle type and engine size.
Bike type
Among fatally injured motorcycle drivers in 2023:
- 2,971 rode cruiser or standard bikes (IIHS Motorcycles and ATVs).
- 756 rode 1,001-1,400 cc bikes (IIHS Motorcycles and ATVs).
- 2,005 rode bikes over 1,400 cc (IIHS Motorcycles and ATVs).
Those counts show that the fatality burden is spread across different classes of motorcycles, not concentrated in just one style.
Supersport riders
The supplied statistics also single out supersport riders.
- 1,122 fatally injured supersport riders were helmeted, the highest helmeted count by motorcycle type (IIHS Motorcycles and ATVs).
- 1,307 fatally injured supersport riders had engines of 1,000 cc or smaller (IIHS Motorcycles and ATVs).
That combination is useful because it shows that supersport fatalities appear in both helmeted cases and smaller-engine categories.
Motorcycle riding statistics in one compact comparison
| Topic | Key 2023 figure | Why it stands out | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total motorcyclist deaths | 6,335 | Highest ever recorded | IIHS Motorcycles and ATVs; NHTSA Motorcycle Safety Month 2024 |
| Share of U.S. motor vehicle crash deaths | 15% | Shows scale relative to all crash deaths | IIHS Motorcycles and ATVs |
| Motorcyclist injuries | 82,564 | Fatalities are only part of the burden | NHTSA Motorcycle Safety Month 2024 |
| May to September share | 59% | Seasonal concentration | IIHS Motorcycles and ATVs |
| July deaths | 778 | Monthly peak | IIHS Motorcycles and ATVs |
| 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. deaths | 1,445 | Peak time band | IIHS Motorcycles and ATVs |
| Urban crashes | 4,075 | Urban roads carry a major share | IIHS Motorcycles and ATVs |
| Multiple-vehicle crashes | 4,105 | Slightly larger than single-vehicle crashes | IIHS Motorcycles and ATVs |
| Helmeted fatally injured drivers | 3,836 | Helmet use still leaves substantial fatality counts | IIHS Motorcycles and ATVs |
| Alcohol-impaired fatally injured drivers with BAC 0.08%+ | 1,584 | Impairment remains a major factor | IIHS Motorcycles and ATVs |
What the numbers suggest for riders and policymakers
The supplied motorcycle riding statistics point to a few practical interpretations without needing to go beyond the data itself.
- Fatal motorcycle risk is not limited to one year, one road type, or one rider group. The fatality totals are high across multiple reference years, road settings, and crash types (IIHS Motorcycles and ATVs).
- Helmet use still matters because the gap between helmeted and unhelmeted fatalities is large enough to show up clearly in both national counts and helmet-law comparisons (IIHS Motorcycles and ATVs; NHTSA Motorcycle Safety Month 2024).
- Alcohol impairment remains tightly linked to fatal outcomes, especially in single-vehicle and nighttime crashes (NHTSA Motorcycle Safety Month 2024; IIHS Motorcycles and ATVs).
- Seasonal and evening-hour concentration means the most dangerous exposure windows are not random; they cluster in a limited set of months and hours (IIHS Motorcycles and ATVs).
- Young riders are not absent from the picture. The 15-to-20 age group saw a sharp increase in fatalities in 2023, which signals a real exposure issue rather than a minor statistical footnote (NHTSA Motorcycle Safety Month 2024).
Taken together, the dataset shows a category with persistent fatality pressure and several recurring risk markers that are visible in the numbers alone: helmet use, alcohol impairment, seasonal riding volume, evening timing, and the split between urban, rural, single-vehicle, and multiple-vehicle crashes (IIHS Motorcycles and ATVs; NHTSA Motorcycle Safety Month 2024).