From The Texas Law Dog
New data has revealed the states where motorcyclists are most at risk of getting into an accident and what is causing these fatalities.
The state that experience the second-most fatal motorcycle crashes was Florida with 2,838 crashes from 2018 to 2022. This equates to 12.55 fatal crashes per 100,000 people.
The research, carried out by Texas Personal Injury lawyers, The Texas Law Dog, analyzed National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data around fatal crashes involving a motorcyclist per state from 2018 to 2022.
Wyoming experienced 79 fatal motorcycle crashes from 2018 to 2022 making it the #1 state for motorcycle crashes, which equates to 13.53 fatal crashes per 100,000 people.
South Carolina is third with 662 fatal motorcycle crashes from 2018 to 2022. This equates to 12.32 fatal crashes per 100,000 people.
Ranking fourth, Arkansas experienced 374 fatal motorcycle crashes from 2018 to 2022, which equates to 12.19 fatal crashes per 100,000 people.
Montana is fifth. Montana had 136 fatal motorcycle crashes from 2018 to 2022, which equates to 12.01 fatal crashes per 100,000 people.
What are the factors behind these accidents?
While these states report the highest number of motorcycle crashes, understanding the factors behind these accidents can help save future lives.
1. Inattention is the number one cause of fatal motorcycle accidents with 532 counts reported.
2. The second most reported cause is being distracted due to an outside person, object, or event with 121 counts reported.
3. Distraction OR inattention is the third most reported with 84 counts.
4. The fourth most reported cause is while using other component/controls integral to the vehicle with 20 counts reported.
5. Other distraction is the fifth most reported cause with 13 counts.
An expert at The Texas Law Dog commented on the findings: “Understanding the root causes of motorcycle fatalities is crucial for developing effective safety measures. Inattention, whether due to distracted driving or other factors, continues to be the leading contributor to fatal crashes."
They continue, "This data underscores the need for heightened awareness and stronger enforcement of traffic laws aimed at reducing distractions, as well as increased rider education to help prevent these tragic accidents.”
|
Rank
|
State
|
Population 2023
|
Fatal Crashes Involving Motorcycles - 2018-2022
|
Fatal Crashes Involving Motorcycles Per 100K People
|
|
1
|
Wyoming
|
584,057
|
79
|
13.53
|
|
2
|
Florida
|
22,610,726
|
2,838
|
12.55
|
|
3
|
South Carolina
|
5,373,555
|
662
|
12.32
|
|
4
|
Arkansas
|
3,067,732
|
374
|
12.19
|
|
5
|
Montana
|
1,132,812
|
136
|
12.01
|
|
6
|
Arizona
|
7,431,344
|
881
|
11.86
|
|
7
|
New Mexico
|
2,114,371
|
250
|
11.82
|
|
8
|
Missouri
|
6,196,156
|
663
|
10.70
|
|
9
|
Tennessee
|
7,126,489
|
760
|
10.66
|
|
10
|
Nevada
|
3,194,176
|
340
|
10.64
|
Here are the details for the remaining states that made the top 10:
Ranking sixth is Arizona with 881 fatal motorcycle crashes from 2018 to 2022. This equates to 11.86 fatal crashes per 100,000 people.
New Mexico experienced 11.82 fatal crashes per 100,000 people. New Mexico reports 250 fatal motorcycle crashes from 2018 to 2022.
The seventh-most dangerous state for motorcycle drivers is Missouri, which had 663 fatal motorcycle crashes from 2018 to 2022. This equates to 10.70 fatal crashes per 100,000 people.
Tennessee had 10.66 fatal crashes per 100,000 people. There were 760 fatal motorcycle crashes from 2018 to 2022.
Rounding out the top ten states is Nevada. Nevada had 340 fatal motorcycle crashes from 2018 to 2022, which equates to 10.64 fatal crashes per 100,000 people.
Methodology:
The states where motorcyclists are most at risk of an accident were calculated and ranked. The data on fatal crashes involving motorcycles was downloaded from the NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System for years 2018-2022.
Sources: https://www.nhtsa.gov/research-data/fatality-analysis-reporting-system-fars
|
Rank - Fatal Crashes Per 100K
|
State
|
Population 2023
|
Fatal Crashes Involving Motorcycles - 2018-2022
|
Fatal Crashes Involving Motorcycles Per 100K
|
|
1
|
Wyoming
|
584,057
|
79
|
13.53
|
|
2
|
Florida
|
22,610,726
|
2,838
|
12.55
|
|
3
|
South Carolina
|
5,373,555
|
662
|
12.32
|
|
4
|
Arkansas
|
3,067,732
|
374
|
12.19
|
|
5
|
Montana
|
1,132,812
|
136
|
12.01
|
|
6
|
Arizona
|
7,431,344
|
881
|
11.86
|
|
7
|
New Mexico
|
2,114,371
|
250
|
11.82
|
|
8
|
Missouri
|
6,196,156
|
663
|
10.70
|
|
9
|
Tennessee
|
7,126,489
|
760
|
10.66
|
|
10
|
Nevada
|
3,194,176
|
340
|
10.64
|
|
11
|
Colorado
|
5,877,610
|
601
|
10.23
|
|
12
|
Kentucky
|
4,526,154
|
450
|
9.94
|
|
13
|
South Dakota
|
919,318
|
90
|
9.79
|
|
14
|
West Virginia
|
1,770,071
|
171
|
9.66
|
|
15
|
Oklahoma
|
4,053,824
|
390
|
9.62
|
|
16
|
New Hampshire
|
1,402,054
|
130
|
9.27
|
|
17
|
Louisiana
|
4,573,749
|
414
|
9.05
|
|
18
|
Maine
|
1,395,722
|
126
|
9.03
|
|
19
|
Oregon
|
4,233,358
|
381
|
9.00
|
|
20
|
North Dakota
|
783,926
|
70
|
8.93
|
|
21
|
Indiana
|
6,862,199
|
587
|
8.55
|
|
22
|
Delaware
|
1,031,890
|
88
|
8.53
|
|
23
|
North Carolina
|
10,835,491
|
922
|
8.51
|
|
24
|
Kansas
|
2,940,546
|
250
|
8.50
|
|
25
|
Alabama
|
5,108,468
|
417
|
8.16
|
|
26
|
Iowa
|
3,207,004
|
258
|
8.04
|
|
27
|
Georgia
|
11029227
|
878
|
7.96
|
|
28
|
Hawaii
|
1,435,138
|
112
|
7.80
|
|
29
|
Wisconsin
|
5,910,955
|
461
|
7.80
|
|
30
|
Ohio
|
11,785,935
|
918
|
7.79
|
|
31
|
Vermont
|
647,464
|
50
|
7.72
|
|
32
|
Texas
|
30,503,301
|
2340
|
7.67
|
|
33
|
Mississippi
|
2,939,690
|
222
|
7.55
|
|
34
|
Connecticut
|
3,617,176
|
273
|
7.55
|
|
35
|
Pennsylvania
|
12,961,683
|
969
|
7.48
|
|
36
|
Idaho
|
1,964,726
|
145
|
7.38
|
|
37
|
Michigan
|
10,037,261
|
733
|
7.30
|
|
38
|
California
|
38,965,193
|
2750
|
7.06
|
|
39
|
Nebraska
|
1,978,379
|
128
|
6.47
|
|
40
|
Washington
|
7,812,880
|
476
|
6.09
|
|
41
|
Utah
|
3,417,734
|
206
|
6.03
|
|
42
|
Maryland
|
6,180,253
|
371
|
6.00
|
|
43
|
Illinois
|
12,549,689
|
714
|
5.69
|
|
44
|
Rhode Island
|
1,095,962
|
62
|
5.66
|
|
45
|
Virginia
|
8,715,698
|
491
|
5.63
|
|
46
|
Minnesota
|
5,737,915
|
313
|
5.45
|
|
47
|
Alaska
|
733,406
|
37
|
5.04
|
|
48
|
New York
|
19,571,216
|
859
|
4.39
|
|
49
|
New Jersey
|
9,290,841
|
397
|
4.27
|
|
50
|
Massachusetts
|
7,001,399
|
274
|
3.91
|
