Surging Danger on 2 Wheels: Study Reveals Increase in Motorcycle-Involved Fatal Crashes Across US
There’s no symbol of America quite as potent as the open road, where you’re free to drive where you choose. But with the great privilege of that freedom comes great responsibility — and, sometimes, great danger.
As common and deadly as automobile accidents can be, motorcyclists are at much higher risk. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), motorcyclists are about 24 times as likely to die in crashes per vehicle miles traveled than those in passenger vehicles.
The latest LendingTree study, which looks closely at motorcycle-involved crashes, bears that scary statistic out, finding that 6.1% of such incidents were fatal in 2022 — compared with just 0.7% of total crashes. What’s more, fatal crashes involving a motorcycle have increased 24.3% over five years — and a drunken driver was involved in about a third of cases over three years.
Read on for the full findings.
Key findings
- Motorcycle-involved fatal crashes rose 24.3% over five years. Nationally, 6,165 deadly crashes involved a motorcycle in 2022, up from 4,960 in 2018. Vermont saw the biggest spike in this period, at 180.0%, followed by New Jersey (77.4%) and Montana (71.4%). Seven states saw decreases between 2018 and 2022.
- Narrowing the period to the two most recent years with available data, deadly crashes involving a motorcycle increased by a far smaller 1.4%. That said, 17 states saw at least a double-digit increase between 2021 and 2022, led by North Dakota (150.0%), Maine (52.4%) and Nebraska (42.9%). Another 26 states saw decreases in this period, while two saw no changes.
- Motorcycles are more commonly involved in fatal crashes in Hawaii. In Hawaii, 29.7% of deadly crashes involved a motorcycle in 2022 — more than six percentage points higher than the next state, New Hampshire, at 23.4%. At least a fifth of fatal crashes involved a motorcycle in five other states. Mississippi was the only state with less than 10.0% of deadly crashes involving a motorcycle, at 7.7%.
- About a third (33.5%) of motorcycle-involved fatal crashes involved a drunken driver with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08% or higher. This was most common in Rhode Island (44.4%), Texas (43.0%) and Ohio (42.9%) and least common in South Dakota (20.0%), Mississippi (23.0%) and Alaska (23.8%). (Note: This data covers 2020 through 2022.)
- Nearly 4 in 10 (38.1%) deadly crashes involving a motorcycle also involved speeding. Hawaii topped the list here, too, at 57.6%, ahead of Colorado (55.6%) and Oregon (55.4%). Conversely, Idaho (16.0%), Florida (18.1%) and Kentucky (21.7%) saw the lowest percentages involving speeding in 2022.
Motorcycle-involved fatal crashes rose 24.3% over 5 years
Some states saw far worse spikes than others. In fact, seven states saw a decrease in motorcycle-involved fatal crashes between these five years.
But that leaves 44 states with rising numbers, with Vermont leading by a landslide. Fatal crashes involving a motorcycle skyrocketed 180.0% there between 2018 and 2022. The next-highest increases were 77.4% in New Jersey and 71.4% in Montana.
While states have different legal requirements on helmet-wearing while riding a motorcycle, all three of these states have rules in place. In Vermont, all riders are legally required to wear a helmet, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), except for those on “motor-driven cycles” with 50 cc or less of engine displacement and maximum speeds of 30 mph. New Jersey requires every rider to wear a helmet with no exceptions. Montana has the laxest policy, requiring helmets only on riders 17 or younger, with moped riders excluded from that obligation.
Biggest % increases in fatal crashes involving a motorcycle, 2018 to 2022
| Rank | State | Fatal crashes involving a motorcycle, 2018 | Fatal crashes involving a motorcycle, 2022 | % change, 2018 to 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vermont | 5 | 14 | 180.0% |
| 2 | New Jersey | 53 | 94 | 77.4% |
| 3 | Montana | 21 | 36 | 71.4% |
Source: LendingTree analysis of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) data.
It’s worth noting, though, that Vermont had one of the smallest fatal motorcycle-involved crash totals in the U.S., even with its high increase. In 2022, there were only 14 such crashes in Vermont. The only states with a lower total were South Dakota (13), Rhode Island (10), Alaska (eight) and the District of Columbia (four) — all four of which figure in the bottom five.
The District of Columbia had the largest drop in fatal crashes involving a motorcycle — the figure was sliced in half over the five years between 2018 and 2022 — followed by Rhode Island (44.4%) and Idaho (32.4%). The other states that saw a drop in the number of motorcycle-involved fatal crashes were Alaska (27.3%), South Dakota (18.8%), Kansas (17.7%) and Tennessee (10.2%).
Biggest % decreases in fatal crashes involving a motorcycle, 2018 to 2022
| Rank | State | Fatal crashes involving a motorcycle, 2018 | Fatal crashes involving a motorcycle, 2022 | % change, 2018 to 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 8 | 4 | -50.0% |
| 2 | Rhode Island | 18 | 10 | -44.4% |
| 3 | Idaho | 37 | 25 | -32.4% |
Source: LendingTree analysis of NHTSA FARS data.
Full rankings
Biggest % increases/decreases in fatal crashes involving a motorcycle, 2018 to 2022
| Rank | State | Fatal crashes involving a motorcycle, 2018 | Fatal crashes involving a motorcycle, 2022 | % change, 2018 to 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vermont | 5 | 14 | 180.0% |
| 2 | New Jersey | 53 | 94 | 77.4% |
| 3 | Montana | 21 | 36 | 71.4% |
| 4 | Washington | 80 | 131 | 63.8% |
| 5 | Nevada | 57 | 87 | 52.6% |
| 6 | Arizona | 155 | 234 | 51.0% |
| 7 | Georgia | 152 | 222 | 46.1% |
| 8 | Ohio | 144 | 210 | 45.8% |
| 9 | Arkansas | 64 | 92 | 43.8% |
| 10 | Colorado | 103 | 144 | 39.8% |
| 11 | Missouri | 112 | 156 | 39.3% |
| 12 | Maine | 23 | 32 | 39.1% |
| 13 | Minnesota | 58 | 80 | 37.9% |
| 14 | Nebraska | 22 | 30 | 36.4% |
| 15 | Texas | 417 | 558 | 33.8% |
| 16 | North Dakota | 15 | 20 | 33.3% |
| 16 | Wyoming | 15 | 20 | 33.3% |
| 18 | Pennsylvania | 160 | 212 | 32.5% |
| 19 | Connecticut | 50 | 66 | 32.0% |
| 20 | Michigan | 135 | 174 | 28.9% |
| 21 | Illinois | 115 | 148 | 28.7% |
| 22 | Maryland | 61 | 78 | 27.9% |
| 23 | Mississippi | 40 | 50 | 25.0% |
| 24 | Oregon | 81 | 101 | 24.7% |
| 25 | New York | 151 | 187 | 23.8% |
| 25 | Iowa | 42 | 52 | 23.8% |
| 27 | South Carolina | 134 | 165 | 23.1% |
| 28 | Virginia | 98 | 118 | 20.4% |
| 29 | California | 527 | 633 | 20.1% |
| 30 | Indiana | 106 | 127 | 19.8% |
| 31 | Louisiana | 79 | 94 | 19.0% |
| 32 | New Hampshire | 27 | 32 | 18.5% |
| 33 | Delaware | 17 | 20 | 17.6% |
| 34 | Utah | 42 | 49 | 16.7% |
| 35 | North Carolina | 188 | 219 | 16.5% |
| 35 | Kentucky | 91 | 106 | 16.5% |
| 37 | New Mexico | 47 | 54 | 14.9% |
| 38 | Florida | 576 | 659 | 14.4% |
| 39 | Alabama | 82 | 93 | 13.4% |
| 40 | West Virginia | 37 | 41 | 10.8% |
| 41 | Oklahoma | 92 | 95 | 3.3% |
| 42 | Hawaii | 32 | 33 | 3.1% |
| 43 | Wisconsin | 78 | 80 | 2.6% |
| 44 | Massachusetts | 58 | 59 | 1.7% |
| 45 | Tennessee | 166 | 149 | -10.2% |
| 46 | Kansas | 62 | 51 | -17.7% |
| 47 | South Dakota | 16 | 13 | -18.8% |
| 48 | Alaska | 11 | 8 | -27.3% |
| 49 | Idaho | 37 | 25 | -32.4% |
| 50 | Rhode Island | 18 | 10 | -44.4% |
| 51 | District of Columbia | 8 | 4 | -50.0% |
Source: LendingTree analysis of NHTSA FARS data.
Increase in deadly crashes involving motorcycle far smaller in recent period
Many organizations are devoted to increasing motorcycle safety awareness, and May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. These campaigns may have been effective in increasing helmet use and making other motorists more alert and aware of motorcyclists on the road.
Similar to above, the data in this period varies significantly. Between 2021 and 2022, North Dakota saw a whopping 150.0% increase in fatal motorcycle-involved crashes. Maine and Nebraska were next at 52.4% and 42.9%, respectively. In all, 17 states saw at least double-digit increases.
Interestingly, all three of these states have laxer helmet laws that apply only to younger riders (17 and younger in North Dakota and Maine, and 20 and younger in Nebraska). Maine’s helmet laws don’t include motorized bicycles with a maximum unassisted speed of 25 mph.
Biggest % increases in fatal crashes involving a motorcycle, 2021 to 2022
| Rank | State | Fatal crashes involving a motorcycle, 2021 | Fatal crashes involving a motorcycle, 2022 | % change, 2021 to 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota | 8 | 20 | 150.0% |
| 2 | Maine | 21 | 32 | 52.4% |
| 3 | Nebraska | 21 | 30 | 42.9% |
Source: LendingTree analysis of NHTSA FARS data.
Conversely, our nation’s capital leads again with a 55.6% decrease in fatal crashes involving a motorcycle between 2021 and 2022. (It’s worth noting that D.C. laws require all motorcyclists and their passengers to wear helmets, regardless of age.)
South Dakota comes in second with a year-over-year decrease of 38.1%, followed by Wisconsin at 32.2%. Overall during this period, 26 states saw decreases in fatal motorcycle-involved crashes, while two states — Nevada and Alaska — saw no change at all.
Biggest % decreases in fatal crashes involving a motorcycle, 2021 to 2022
| Rank | State | Fatal crashes involving a motorcycle, 2021 | Fatal crashes involving a motorcycle, 2022 | % change, 2021 to 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 9 | 4 | -55.6% |
| 2 | South Dakota | 21 | 13 | -38.1% |
| 3 | Wisconsin | 118 | 80 | -32.2% |
Source: LendingTree analysis of NHTSA FARS data.
Full rankings
Biggest % increases/decreases in fatal crashes involving a motorcycle, 2021 to 2022
| Rank | State | Fatal crashes involving a motorcycle, 2021 | Fatal crashes involving a motorcycle, 2022 | % change, 2021 to 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota | 8 | 20 | 150.0% |
| 2 | Maine | 21 | 32 | 52.4% |
| 3 | Nebraska | 21 | 30 | 42.9% |
| 4 | Washington | 92 | 131 | 42.4% |
| 5 | West Virginia | 29 | 41 | 41.4% |
| 6 | Arizona | 168 | 234 | 39.3% |
| 7 | Montana | 26 | 36 | 38.5% |
| 8 | Mississippi | 37 | 50 | 35.1% |
| 9 | New Hampshire | 24 | 32 | 33.3% |
| 9 | Wyoming | 15 | 20 | 33.3% |
| 11 | Oregon | 82 | 101 | 23.2% |
| 12 | Utah | 40 | 49 | 22.5% |
| 13 | Alabama | 79 | 93 | 17.7% |
| 14 | Minnesota | 68 | 80 | 17.6% |
| 15 | Kansas | 44 | 51 | 15.9% |
| 15 | Oklahoma | 82 | 95 | 15.9% |
| 17 | Georgia | 195 | 222 | 13.8% |
| 18 | Texas | 522 | 558 | 6.9% |
| 19 | Colorado | 136 | 144 | 5.9% |
| 20 | Kentucky | 102 | 106 | 3.9% |
| 21 | Louisiana | 91 | 94 | 3.3% |
| 21 | California | 613 | 633 | 3.3% |
| 23 | Virginia | 117 | 118 | 0.9% |
| 24 | Alaska | 8 | 8 | 0.0% |
| 24 | Nevada | 87 | 87 | 0.0% |
| 26 | Michigan | 175 | 174 | -0.6% |
| 27 | Connecticut | 67 | 66 | -1.5% |
| 28 | New Mexico | 55 | 54 | -1.8% |
| 29 | Florida | 672 | 659 | -1.9% |
| 30 | Hawaii | 34 | 33 | -2.9% |
| 31 | Ohio | 218 | 210 | -3.7% |
| 32 | Maryland | 82 | 78 | -4.9% |
| 33 | New Jersey | 99 | 94 | -5.1% |
| 34 | Arkansas | 97 | 92 | -5.2% |
| 35 | North Carolina | 233 | 219 | -6.0% |
| 36 | Pennsylvania | 226 | 212 | -6.2% |
| 37 | Missouri | 167 | 156 | -6.6% |
| 38 | Indiana | 137 | 127 | -7.3% |
| 39 | Tennessee | 162 | 149 | -8.0% |
| 40 | South Carolina | 184 | 165 | -10.3% |
| 41 | Illinois | 169 | 148 | -12.4% |
| 42 | Vermont | 16 | 14 | -12.5% |
| 43 | Delaware | 24 | 20 | -16.7% |
| 44 | New York | 227 | 187 | -17.6% |
| 45 | Massachusetts | 73 | 59 | -19.2% |
| 46 | Iowa | 65 | 52 | -20.0% |
| 47 | Idaho | 32 | 25 | -21.9% |
| 48 | Rhode Island | 13 | 10 | -23.1% |
| 49 | Wisconsin | 118 | 80 | -32.2% |
| 50 | South Dakota | 21 | 13 | -38.1% |
| 51 | District of Columbia | 9 | 4 | -55.6% |
Source: LendingTree analysis of NHTSA FARS data.
Motorcycles more commonly involved in fatal crashes in Hawaii
Nationally, 15.7% of all fatal crashes involved motorcycles in 2022 — 6,165 of the recorded 39,221 deadly accidents that occurred that year.
Again, the data looks a lot different depending on which state you’re riding or driving in. In the Aloha State, for instance, motorcycle-involved accidents accounted for nearly a third of fatal crashes that year, or 29.7%. (While the data doesn’t show where each crash occurred, Hawaii’s unique island geography means many of its roads are tight and treacherous. Maui’s Kahekili Highway, for example, is a single-lane road with sheer cliff drop-offs, described by many as one of the most dangerous roads in the world.)
New Hampshire and Nevada come in next at 23.4% and 22.7%, respectively. While Nevada requires helmets for all motorcyclists, New Hampshire has no such law, which may increase the activity’s deadliness in the Granite State.
In all, motorcycles were involved in at least a fifth of crashes in seven states — the three mentioned and North Dakota (20.8%), Colorado (20.6%), Connecticut (20.3%) and Florida (20.0%). Each of these four latter states has helmet laws that only apply to younger riders and passengers — 17 and younger in North Dakota, Colorado and Connecticut, and 20 or younger in Florida.
Highest % of fatal crashes involving a motorcycle, 2022
| Rank | State | Fatal crashes involving a motorcycle, 2022 | Fatal crashes, 2022 | % of fatal crashes involving a motorcycle, 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii | 33 | 111 | 29.7% |
| 2 | New Hampshire | 32 | 137 | 23.4% |
| 3 | Nevada | 87 | 383 | 22.7% |
Source: LendingTree analysis of NHTSA FARS data.
Mississippi stands alone as the only state where motorcycle-involved accidents account for less than 1 in 10 fatal crashes (7.7%). The Magnolia State requires all motorcyclists to wear helmets, with no exceptions.
Full rankings
Highest/lowest % of fatal crashes involving a motorcycle, 2022
| Rank | State | Fatal crashes involving a motorcycle, 2022 | Fatal crashes, 2022 | % of fatal crashes involving a motorcycle, 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii | 33 | 111 | 29.7% |
| 2 | New Hampshire | 32 | 137 | 23.4% |
| 3 | Nevada | 87 | 383 | 22.7% |
| 4 | North Dakota | 20 | 96 | 20.8% |
| 5 | Colorado | 144 | 699 | 20.6% |
| 6 | Connecticut | 66 | 325 | 20.3% |
| 7 | Florida | 659 | 3,298 | 20.0% |
| 8 | Arizona | 234 | 1,183 | 19.8% |
| 9 | Rhode Island | 10 | 51 | 19.6% |
| 9 | Montana | 36 | 184 | 19.6% |
| 11 | Pennsylvania | 212 | 1,092 | 19.4% |
| 12 | Vermont | 14 | 73 | 19.2% |
| 13 | Minnesota | 80 | 418 | 19.1% |
| 14 | Washington | 131 | 691 | 19.0% |
| 15 | Maine | 32 | 171 | 18.7% |
| 16 | Oregon | 101 | 553 | 18.3% |
| 17 | Ohio | 210 | 1,180 | 17.8% |
| 18 | Wyoming | 20 | 118 | 16.9% |
| 18 | Iowa | 52 | 307 | 16.9% |
| 18 | New York | 187 | 1,105 | 16.9% |
| 21 | Utah | 49 | 296 | 16.6% |
| 22 | West Virginia | 41 | 248 | 16.5% |
| 22 | Michigan | 174 | 1,054 | 16.5% |
| 24 | Missouri | 156 | 962 | 16.2% |
| 24 | South Carolina | 165 | 1,019 | 16.2% |
| 26 | Arkansas | 92 | 583 | 15.8% |
| 27 | California | 633 | 4,109 | 15.4% |
| 28 | Kentucky | 106 | 693 | 15.3% |
| 29 | Oklahoma | 95 | 643 | 14.8% |
| 30 | Maryland | 78 | 532 | 14.7% |
| 31 | New Jersey | 94 | 642 | 14.6% |
| 31 | North Carolina | 219 | 1,500 | 14.6% |
| 31 | Wisconsin | 80 | 548 | 14.6% |
| 34 | Indiana | 127 | 884 | 14.4% |
| 35 | Massachusetts | 59 | 412 | 14.3% |
| 35 | District of Columbia | 4 | 28 | 14.3% |
| 37 | Texas | 558 | 3,966 | 14.1% |
| 38 | Nebraska | 30 | 214 | 14.0% |
| 38 | Kansas | 51 | 364 | 14.0% |
| 38 | Delaware | 20 | 143 | 14.0% |
| 41 | Georgia | 222 | 1,678 | 13.2% |
| 42 | Illinois | 148 | 1,147 | 12.9% |
| 42 | New Mexico | 54 | 419 | 12.9% |
| 42 | Idaho | 25 | 194 | 12.9% |
| 45 | Virginia | 118 | 946 | 12.5% |
| 46 | Tennessee | 149 | 1,215 | 12.3% |
| 47 | Louisiana | 94 | 852 | 11.0% |
| 48 | South Dakota | 13 | 121 | 10.7% |
| 48 | Alaska | 8 | 75 | 10.7% |
| 50 | Alabama | 93 | 913 | 10.2% |
| 51 | Mississippi | 50 | 646 | 7.7% |
Source: LendingTree analysis of NHTSA FARS data.
About a third of motorcycle-involved deadly crashes involved drunken driver
No matter what kind of vehicle you’ve got, drinking and driving don’t mix — as is evidenced by the 33.5% of motorcycle-involved fatal crashes where at least one driver was impaired. (Note: This part of the study utilizes data from 2020 through 2022, for drivers with a BAC of 0.08% or higher.)
Consuming alcohol or drugs before driving a motorcycle adds an unnecessary risk to an already risky activity, LendingTree auto insurance expert Rob Bhatt says. Along with the lack of structural protection a motorcycle offers compared to a passenger car, motorcycles often fall into other motorists’ blind spots, meaning their drivers must be on the lookout to avoid being cut off or rear-ended.
Again, the data shifts substantially by state. In Rhode Island, which tops the list, a drunken driver was involved in 44.4% of motorcycle-involved fatal crashes. Texas came in second at 43.0%, followed by Ohio at 42.9%.
Even in South Dakota, the state that enjoys the lowest spot on this dark ranking, a drunken driver was involved in a fifth (20.0%) of fatal motorcycle-involved crashes. Mississippi comes in next lowest at 23.0%, followed by Alaska at 23.8%.
Full rankings
% of fatal crashes involving a motorcycle also involving an impaired driver, 2020-22
| Rank | State | Fatal crashes involving a motorcycle also involving an impaired driver, 2020-22 | Fatal crashes involving a motorcycle, 2020-22 | % of fatal crashes involving a motorcycle also involving an impaired driver, 2020-22 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island | 16 | 36 | 44.4% |
| 2 | Texas | 668 | 1,555 | 43.0% |
| 3 | Ohio | 271 | 632 | 42.9% |
| 4 | New Hampshire | 34 | 80 | 42.5% |
| 5 | Wyoming | 22 | 52 | 42.3% |
| 6 | North Dakota | 18 | 45 | 40.0% |
| 7 | Connecticut | 76 | 195 | 39.0% |
| 8 | South Carolina | 186 | 480 | 38.8% |
| 9 | Oregon | 97 | 251 | 38.6% |
| 9 | Illinois | 182 | 471 | 38.6% |
| 11 | Washington | 121 | 316 | 38.3% |
| 12 | Iowa | 67 | 178 | 37.6% |
| 13 | Montana | 34 | 92 | 37.0% |
| 14 | Maine | 29 | 80 | 36.3% |
| 15 | Colorado | 147 | 413 | 35.6% |
| 16 | Wisconsin | 110 | 311 | 35.4% |
| 17 | Maryland | 87 | 248 | 35.1% |
| 18 | Massachusetts | 63 | 187 | 33.7% |
| 19 | Arizona | 190 | 565 | 33.6% |
| 19 | New York | 205 | 611 | 33.6% |
| 21 | Idaho | 28 | 84 | 33.3% |
| 22 | California | 589 | 1,805 | 32.6% |
| 23 | Louisiana | 84 | 260 | 32.3% |
| 23 | New Mexico | 50 | 155 | 32.3% |
| 25 | Pennsylvania | 208 | 655 | 31.8% |
| 26 | New Jersey | 85 | 270 | 31.5% |
| 27 | Indiana | 129 | 411 | 31.4% |
| 28 | Missouri | 139 | 444 | 31.3% |
| 29 | Michigan | 160 | 517 | 30.9% |
| 30 | Oklahoma | 74 | 240 | 30.8% |
| 30 | Nevada | 73 | 237 | 30.8% |
| 30 | North Carolina | 198 | 643 | 30.8% |
| 30 | Vermont | 12 | 39 | 30.8% |
| 34 | Virginia | 103 | 336 | 30.7% |
| 35 | Georgia | 185 | 606 | 30.5% |
| 35 | Delaware | 18 | 59 | 30.5% |
| 37 | Minnesota | 65 | 214 | 30.4% |
| 38 | Florida | 578 | 1,925 | 30.0% |
| 38 | District of Columbia | 6 | 20 | 30.0% |
| 40 | Hawaii | 25 | 86 | 29.1% |
| 41 | Nebraska | 24 | 85 | 28.2% |
| 41 | Alabama | 70 | 248 | 28.2% |
| 43 | West Virginia | 30 | 107 | 28.0% |
| 44 | Tennessee | 126 | 460 | 27.4% |
| 45 | Kansas | 42 | 157 | 26.8% |
| 46 | Utah | 35 | 133 | 26.3% |
| 47 | Kentucky | 76 | 297 | 25.6% |
| 48 | Arkansas | 69 | 271 | 25.5% |
| 49 | Alaska | 5 | 21 | 23.8% |
| 50 | Mississippi | 34 | 148 | 23.0% |
| 51 | South Dakota | 12 | 60 | 20.0% |
Source: LendingTree analysis of NHTSA FARS data.
Nearly 4 in 10 deadly crashes involving motorcycle also involved speeding
“Speed kills” is a cliche for a reason — particularly for those riding on two wheels. Of fatal crashes involving motorcycles, speeding was a factor in 38.1% of cases nationwide in 2022.
In any type of vehicle, faster speeds reduce drivers’ available reaction time, and accidental impacts can cause greater physical damage.
But “the dangers of speeding are a little more complicated for motorcyclists than for other drivers,” Bhatt says. While motorcyclists endeavor to make themselves visible to other drivers — often by passing — they can all too easily find themselves bearing down on, or even running into, the vehicle in front of them.
Drivers in Hawaii top this chart as well, with far more than half of its fatal motorcycle-involved crashes involving speeding (57.6%). Colorado (55.6%) and Oregon (55.4%) follow.
Even in Idaho, the state where speeding was involved in the lowest percentage of fatal motorcycle-involved accidents, the rate is 16.0%. Florida comes next-lowest at 18.1%, followed by Kentucky at 21.7%.
Full rankings
% of fatal crashes involving a motorcycle also involving speeding, 2022
| Rank | State | Fatal crashes involving a motorcycle also involving speeding, 2022 | Fatal crashes involving a motorcycle, 2022 | % of fatal crashes involving a motorcycle also involving speeding, 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii | 19 | 33 | 57.6% |
| 2 | Colorado | 80 | 144 | 55.6% |
| 3 | Oregon | 56 | 101 | 55.4% |
| 4 | Washington | 66 | 131 | 50.4% |
| 5 | Alaska | 4 | 8 | 50.0% |
| 5 | Delaware | 10 | 20 | 50.0% |
| 5 | District of Columbia | 2 | 4 | 50.0% |
| 5 | New Hampshire | 16 | 32 | 50.0% |
| 5 | New Mexico | 27 | 54 | 50.0% |
| 5 | Rhode Island | 5 | 10 | 50.0% |
| 11 | California | 313 | 633 | 49.4% |
| 12 | Texas | 274 | 558 | 49.1% |
| 13 | North Carolina | 104 | 219 | 47.5% |
| 14 | Missouri | 74 | 156 | 47.4% |
| 15 | New York | 88 | 187 | 47.1% |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | 99 | 212 | 46.7% |
| 17 | South Dakota | 6 | 13 | 46.2% |
| 18 | Maryland | 34 | 78 | 43.6% |
| 19 | Virginia | 51 | 118 | 43.2% |
| 20 | Utah | 21 | 49 | 42.9% |
| 21 | Arizona | 99 | 234 | 42.3% |
| 22 | Oklahoma | 37 | 95 | 38.9% |
| 23 | Connecticut | 25 | 66 | 37.9% |
| 24 | Indiana | 48 | 127 | 37.8% |
| 25 | South Carolina | 62 | 165 | 37.6% |
| 26 | Georgia | 83 | 222 | 37.4% |
| 27 | Alabama | 33 | 93 | 35.5% |
| 28 | Wyoming | 7 | 20 | 35.0% |
| 29 | Massachusetts | 20 | 59 | 33.9% |
| 30 | Minnesota | 27 | 80 | 33.8% |
| 31 | Montana | 12 | 36 | 33.3% |
| 32 | Illinois | 49 | 148 | 33.1% |
| 33 | New Jersey | 30 | 94 | 31.9% |
| 34 | Kansas | 16 | 51 | 31.4% |
| 35 | Maine | 10 | 32 | 31.3% |
| 36 | Michigan | 54 | 174 | 31.0% |
| 36 | Nevada | 27 | 87 | 31.0% |
| 38 | Iowa | 16 | 52 | 30.8% |
| 39 | West Virginia | 12 | 41 | 29.3% |
| 40 | Vermont | 4 | 14 | 28.6% |
| 41 | Louisiana | 26 | 94 | 27.7% |
| 42 | Wisconsin | 22 | 80 | 27.5% |
| 43 | Arkansas | 25 | 92 | 27.2% |
| 44 | Nebraska | 8 | 30 | 26.7% |
| 45 | Mississippi | 13 | 50 | 26.0% |
| 46 | Ohio | 53 | 210 | 25.2% |
| 47 | North Dakota | 5 | 20 | 25.0% |
| 48 | Tennessee | 33 | 149 | 22.1% |
| 49 | Kentucky | 23 | 106 | 21.7% |
| 50 | Florida | 119 | 659 | 18.1% |
| 51 | Idaho | 4 | 25 | 16.0% |
Source: LendingTree analysis of NHTSA FARS data.
3 tips for motorcycle insurance
For motorcyclists, buying the right insurance coverage is second in importance only to staying safe and sober on the road. Fortunately, we’ve got the expert tips to do it right from the get-go.
- For starters: No, your car insurance isn’t enough. Even the best auto insurance policy on the market is unlikely to cover your motorcycle, which instead should be subject to its own plan. Motorcycle insurance may be available for as little as $10 per month, but more inclusive policies may cost several hundred dollars — and they’re worth looking into given the high risks.
- Add personal injury protection (PIP). While most states require your auto or motorcycle insurance policy to cover your liability — i.e., the cost of damage and harm inflicted on others in the accident — fewer require you to purchase a policy that would pay for your own medical bills. Given the catastrophic injuries that can occur on motorcycles, PIP is worth adding to your policy, Bhatt says. “Personal injury protection covers your initial medical bills in any accident, regardless of fault. Even if you already have health insurance, PIP can spare you from some or all of your deductibles and copayments.”
- Add uninsured motorist (UM) coverage, too. Another protection many states don’t require by law, UM coverage can seem unnecessary but may prove a financial lifesaver in an unfortunate situation. “If you’re injured in an accident caused by someone else, their liability insurance is supposed to cover your injuries,” Bhatt says. “Unfortunately, there are a lot of drivers without insurance. This is where your own UM would kick in. It covers your medical bills if the at-fault driver is uninsured.” In short, if you’re on two wheels, it’s probably worth it.
Methodology
LendingTree researchers analyzed National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) data using the Fatality and Injury Reporting System Tool (FIRST).
Researchers analyzed data on fatal crashes involving a motorcycle from 2018 through 2022 (the latest available). We calculated percentage changes in motorcycle-involved fatal crashes from 2018 to 2022 and 2021 to 2022.
Additionally, fatal crashes involving a motorcycle were compared to total fatal crashes to calculate the percentage of fatal crashes that involved a motorcycle, nationally and by state.
Researchers also analyzed the percentage of motorcycle-involved fatal crashes involving drunken driving (BAC of 0.08% or higher) and speeding.