Fatality Facts 2021: Motorcycles and ATVs (2024)

Motorcycles are less stable and less visible than cars and often have high performance capabilities. When motorcycles crash, their riders lack the protection of an enclosed vehicle, so they're more likely to be injured or killed. The federal government estimates that per mile traveled in 2021, the number of deaths on motorcycles was nearly 24 times the number in cars.National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. (2023). Traffic safety facts, 2021: Motorcycles (Report No. DOT HS-813-466). U.S. Department of Transportation.

Because serious head injury is common among fatally injured motorcyclists, helmet use is important. Helmets are about 37% effective in preventing motorcycle deathsDeutermann, W. (2004). Motorcycle helmet effectiveness revisited(Report No. DOT HS-809-715). National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.and about 67% effective in preventing brain injuries.National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. (2008). Traffic safety facts, laws: Motorcycle helmet use laws(Report No. DOT HS-810-887W). U.S. Department of Transportation.Yet only 17 states and the District of Columbia mandate helmet use by all riders.

All-terrain vehicles (ATVs) are not designed for on-highway use, but in recent yearshundreds ofriders died in crashes on public roads annually.

The following facts are based on analysis of data from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).

PostedMay 2023.

Trends

A total of6,084 motorcyclists died in crashes in 2021. That is the highest number recorded and a21% increasesince 2019. Motorcycle deaths accounted for 14% of all motor vehicle crash deaths in 2021 and werenearly triple the number of motorcyclist deaths in 1997.

Passenger vehicle occupant deaths and motorcyclist deaths, 1975-2021

Passenger vehicle occupant and motorcyclist deaths as a percentage of all motor vehicle crash deaths, 1975-2021
YearPassenger vehicle occupant deathsMotorcyclist deathsAll motor vehicle deaths
Number%Number%Number%
197530,601693,180744,525100
197631,724703,306745,523100
197732,823694,099947,878100
197834,923694,574950,331100
197935,026694,8921051,093100
198034,996685,1381051,091100
198133,711684,8961049,301100
198229,656674,4491043,945100
198329,154684,2601042,589100
198430,094684,6021044,257100
198529,848684,5621043,825100
198632,224704,5661046,087100
198733,145714,034946,390100
198834,105723,661847,087100
198933,599743,135745,582100
199032,711733,243744,599100
199130,810742,805741,508100
199229,457752,395639,250100
199329,994752,445640,150100
199430,820762,317640,716100
199531,914762,226541,817100
199632,354772,161542,065100
199732,343772,116542,013100
199831,781772,294641,501100
199932,008772,483641,717100
200032,109772,895741,945100
200131,938763,195842,196100
200232,724763,267843,005100
200332,166753,710942,884100
200431,750744,026942,836100
200531,455724,5751143,510100
200630,628724,8101142,708100
200729,155715,1741341,259100
200825,547685,3071437,423100
200923,507694,4671333,883100
201022,351684,5171432,999100
201121,413664,6301432,479100
201221,906654,9861533,782100
201321,361654,6911432,894100
201421,131654,3021332,744100
201522,741645,0261435,485100
201623,957635,3371437,806100
201723,866645,2291437,473100
201823,046635,0381436,835100
201922,557625,0441436,355100
202024,135625,6191439,007100
202126,585626,0841442,939100

The rate of unlicensed fatally injured motorcycle drivers during 2021 was higher than the rate of unlicensed fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers (38% vs. 20%). Both rates increased substantially from 2019 to 2020 and were virtually unchanged in 2021.

Passenger vehicle and motorcycle driver deaths by driver's license status, 2012-2021
YearPassenger vehicle driversMotorcycle drivers
No valid licenseValid licenseTotal*No valid licenseValid licenseTotal*
Number%Number%Number%Number%Number%Number%
20122,3661513,4648515,9151001,216263,399734,652100
20132,3191513,1748515,5771001,227283,165724,422100
20142,5121612,8798315,4951001,116282,900724,041100
20152,5831613,9428416,6291001,375293,326704,732100
20162,8661614,6608317,6411001,445293,516704,998100
20172,9281614,7038317,7511001,514313,390694,941100
20182,7811614,3598317,2631001,404303,270694,724100
20192,7421614,0278316,8781001,494313,224684,763100
20203,7172014,4027918,3161002,032383,231615,307100
20214,1212015,8987820,2611002,184383,544615,785100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Thirty-eight percent of motorcyclist deaths in 2021 occurred in single-vehicle crashes, and 62% occurred in multiple-vehicle crashes.

Motorcyclist deaths by crash type, 1975-2021
YearSingle-vehicleMultiple-vehicleAll crashes*
Deaths%Deaths%Deaths%
19751,149362,025643,180100
19761,247382,042623,306100
19771,579392,503614,099100
19781,720382,831624,574100
19791,919392,957604,892100
19802,067403,046595,138100
19811,952402,920604,896100
19821,844412,605594,449100
19831,835432,425574,260100
19841,925422,677584,602100
19851,928422,634584,562100
19861,929422,637584,566100
19871,661412,373594,034100
19881,518412,143593,661100
19891,382441,753563,135100
19901,406431,837573,243100
19911,238441,567562,805100
19921,074451,321552,395100
19931,021421,424582,445100
1994981421,336582,317100
1995927421,299582,226100
1996906421,255582,161100
1997898421,218582,116100
19981,013441,281562,294100
19991,098441,385562,483100
20001,270441,625562,895100
20011,422451,773553,195100
20021,495461,772543,267100
20031,569422,141583,710100
20041,754442,272564,026100
20051,971432,599574,575100
20062,082432,722574,810100
20072,262442,910565,174100
20082,394452,909555,307100
20091,987442,478554,467100
20102,023452,494554,517100
20112,088452,542554,630100
20122,133432,853574,986100
20131,938412,753594,691100
20141,799422,503584,302100
20151,994403,032605,026100
20162,081393,256615,337100
20171,971383,258625,229100
20181,879373,159635,038100
20191,959393,085615,044100
20202,250403,369605,619100
20212,298383,786626,084100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Age and sex

In the late 1970s the proportion of fatally injured motorcyclists who were 50 and older started to increase, rising from 3% of all rider deaths in 1975 to 14% in 1997 and 35% in 2021. In contrast, 26% of the fatally injured motorcyclists in 2021 were younger than 30, compared with 80% in 1975.

Percentage of motorcyclist deaths by age, 1975-2021

Motorcyclist deaths by age, 1975-2021
Year≤29 years30-39 years40-49 years≥50 yearsTotal*
Number%Number%Number%Number%Number%
19752,538804281312948133,180100
19762,6318042913143410133,306100
19773,2798053713149412934,099100
19783,6398061313185413034,574100
19793,7327674715233517344,892100
19803,7567391818278518245,138100
19813,5947385017262518144,896100
19823,2107280818253616744,449100
19833,0747277618239616544,260100
19843,2857183318275619544,602100
19853,2657286119247518444,562100
19863,2187091320268615634,566100
19872,7276885321286716844,034100
19882,4266677421290817053,661100
19891,9276176024288915753,135100
19901,9616081625277918863,243100
19911,62958728262961115152,805100
19921,29954652272801216472,395100
19931,26752665273351417672,445100
19941,16850607263461519582,317100
19951,10350576263591618882,226100
1996965455552642019221102,161100
1997860415562640519294142,116100
1998921406122747521285122,294100
1999898366122557023403162,483100
20001,006357062467723501172,895100
20011,134357982572923532173,195100
20021,042327802476924674213,267100
20031,179328372390324789213,710100
20041,297328752297124883224,026100
20051,44131975211,027221,131254,575100
20061,524321,000211,107231,178244,810100
20071,581311,043201,173231,372275,174100
20081,62031989191,178221,518295,307100
20091,18627851191,016231,411324,467100
20101,1712681418996221,535344,517100
20111,2282782718944201,630354,630100
20121,2902691318990201,792364,986100
20131,2812781717953201,640354,691100
20141,2763072517747171,553364,302100
20151,4772985517884181,808365,026100
20161,5082896318905171,955375,337100
20171,4812896418892171,889365,229100
20181,3962893419864171,844375,038100
20191,3882896219816161,876375,044100
20201,486261,19221930172,006365,619100
20211,555261,310221,078182,133356,084100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Ninety-two percent of motorcyclists killed in 2021 were males.

Motorcyclist deaths by age and sex, 2021
AgeMaleFemaleTotal*
Number%Number%Number%
<16289031031100
16-1919594115208100
20-2456294376600100
25-2967294426716100
30-3467092558725100
35-3954994356585100
40-44478905610534100
45-49491905210544100
50-54502905610558100
55-59487905410541100
60-69659907210732100
≥7028895145302100
Total*5,5879248886,084100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Fifty-sevenpercent of the female motorcyclists who died in crashes in 2021 were passengers, and their deaths represented 92% of the passenger deaths. The vast majority of male motorcyclists who died were drivers.

Motorcyclist deaths by person type and sex, 2021
Person typeMaleFemaleTotal*
Number%Number%Number%
Driver5,5649621245,785100
Passenger23827692299100
Total5,5879248886,084100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Helmet use

In 2021, 60% of fatally injured motorcycle drivers were helmeted. Helmet use was lower, at46%, for people killed as passengers on motorcycles.

Helmet use of fatally injured motorcycle drivers and passengers, 2021
HelmetNo helmetTotal*
Number%Number%Number%
Driver3,445602,144375,785100
Passenger1384615050299100
Total3,583592,294386,084100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

In 2021, 87% of fatally injured motorcyclists were helmeted in states with helmet laws that cover all riders, in contrast to only31% in states with no helmet law. In states with helmet laws that cover only some riders, 42% of fatally injured motorcyclists were helmeted.

Helmet use of fatally injured motorcyclists by helmet law status, 2021
HelmetNo helmetTotal*
Number%Number%Number%
No law853117966270100
Partial law1,474421,902543,493100
Universal law2,0248721392,321100
Total3,583592,294386,084100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Motorcycle type and engine size

Engine sizes of motorcycles whose drivers were killed in crashes have gone up dramatically. Among motorcycle drivers killed in 2021, 34% drove motorcycles with engine sizes larger than 1,400 cc, compared with 9% in 2000 and less than 1% in 1990.

Percentage of motorcycle driver deaths by motorcycle engine size, 1985-2021

Motorcycle driver deaths by motorcycle engine size, 1985-2021
Year0-1,000 cc1,001-1,400 cc>1,400 ccTotal*
Number%Number%Number%Number
19852,6826761415004,021
19862,8227062516004,019
19872,5157060217003,590
19882,21968617196<13,281
19891,87968539193<12,780
19901,93767620215<12,895
19911,67267556221312,496
19921,38964522248<12,172
19931,371625862611<12,212
19941,24459540261512,092
19951,21560568282212,020
19961,13558552283821,962
19971,07956618323321,937
19981,16956650314622,089
19991,09948644289942,286
20001,371527792923492,651
20011,5535378126309102,953
20021,5065073724482163,031
20031,6414883024614183,423
20041,7974881322724203,711
20052,0924993222865204,253
20062,20049862191,018234,492
20072,42550917191,120234,853
20082,36047877181,245254,970
20091,84744736181,144274,163
20101,77242731171,182284,207
20111,98046755171,183274,341
20122,02744791171,316284,652
20132,06347703161,281294,422
20141,89047678171,286324,041
20152,24447741161,400304,732
20162,31446759151,581324,998
20172,29546726151,606334,941
20182,19747664141,586344,724
20192,19346679141,624344,763
20202,48647705131,781345,307
20212,69747757131,982345,785
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Among the motorcycles whose drivers were killed in 2021, 94% of touring bikes had engines larger than 1,400 cc, while virtually all supersport bikes had engine sizes of 1,000 cc or smaller.

Fatally injured motorcycle drivers by motorcycle type and engine size, 2021
0-1,000 cc1,001-1,400 cc>1,400 ccTotal *
Number%Number%Number%Number%
Cruiser/standard4592643825836481,733100
Touring1<16661,117941,184100
Sport-touring162353770069100
Sport/unclad sport589801401991738100
Supersport1,15299171001,169100
Off-road1211000000121100
Other/unknown35947436203771100
Total2,69747757131,982345,785100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Among fatally injured motorcycle drivers in 2021, 83% of cruiser or standard motorcycle drivers were 30 or older, as were 93% of touring bike drivers. In contrast,46% of fatally injured supersport and sport/unclad sport drivers in 2021 were younger than 30.

Fatally injured motorcycle drivers by age and motorcycle type, 2021
<30 years30-39 years40-49 years50+ yearsTotal *
Number%Number%Number%Number%Number%
Cruiser/standard297173201833119784451,733100
Touring8071431225822701591,184100
Sport-touring699131116436269100
Sport/unclad sport3394618825117169313738100
Supersport5404638733173156861,169100
Off-road69573126971210121100
Other/unknown16421176231171531140771100
Total1,495261,254221,016182,012355,785100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

At 81%, helmet use was highest among fatally injured drivers of supersport motorcycles in 2021, followed closely bysport/unclad sport at 80% and then sport-touring at67%. About half of fatally injured drivers of touring motorcycles and of cruisers or standard motorcycles were helmeted.

Helmet use of fatally injured motorcycle drivers by motorcycle type, 2021
HelmetNo helmetTotal*
Number%Number%Number%
Cruiser/standard89752794461,733100
Touring59050559471,184100
Sport-touring4667172569100
Sport/unclad sport5908013218738100
Supersport94681179151,169100
Off-road35298268121100
Other2045316543382100
Unknown1373521656389100
Total3,445602,144375,785100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

When and where they died

Fifty-ninepercent of motorcyclist deaths in 2021 occurred during May-September. Fatalities peaked in June and were lowest in February.

Motorcyclist deaths by month, 2021
MonthDeaths%
January2013
February1813
March4197
April5489
May68311
June73012
July72112
August72312
September72012
October5699
November3265
December2634
Total6,084100

Forty-nine percent of motorcyclist deaths in 2021 occurred on weekends, and those deaths were more likely to occur after 6 p.m. compared with weekdays.

Motorcyclist deaths by time of day, 2021
Weekend (6 p.m. Friday - 6 a.m. Monday)Other timesTotal
Number%Number%
Midnight - 3 a.m.330111785508
3 a.m. - 6 a.m.11741104227
6 a.m. - 9 a.m.7732417318
9 a.m. - noon18462589442
Noon - 3 p.m.4351547016905
3 p.m. - 6 p.m.54419749241,293
6 p.m. - 9 p.m.72024659221,379
9 p.m. - midnight5381843614974
Total*2,9621003,1221006,084
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Fifty-fourpercent of motorcyclist deaths in 2021 occurred on major roads other than interstates and freeways. Deaths were more likely to occur in urban than rural areas (67% vs. 32%).

Motorcyclist deaths by location of crash, 2021
Road TypeUrbanRuralTotal*
Number%Number%Number%
Interstates and freeways59210103269511
Noninterstate major roads2,39839863143,26154
Minor roads1,10218997162,09935
Total*4,093671,966326,084100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Alcohol involvement

Twenty-nine percent of fatally injured motorcycle drivers in 2021 had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) at or above 0.08%; in single-vehicle crashes this was43%.

Estimated number and percent of fatally injured motorcycle drivers with high BACs by crash type, 2021
Crash typeDeathsEstimated deaths with BACs ≥ 0.08Estimated deaths with BACs ≥ 0.15
NumberNumber%Number%
Single-vehicle2,1669304361829
Multiple-vehicle3,6197292041111
All crashes5,7851,659291,02918

Forty-nine percent of motorcycle drivers killed at night (9 p.m. - 6 a.m.) in 2021 had BACs at or above 0.08%.

Estimated number and percent of fatally injured motorcycle drivers with high BACs by time of day, 2021
Time of dayDeathsEstimated deaths with BACs ≥ 0.08Estimated deaths with BACs ≥ 0.15
NumberNumber%Number%
Nighttime (9 p.m. - 6 a.m.)1,6187864950631
Other times4,1678732152213
Total5,7851,659291,02918

ATVs

Deaths of ATV riders on public roads have increaseddramaticallysince 1982, the first year they were explicitly identified in FARS. The proportion of fatally injured ATV riders who were 40 and older increased from 9% in 1982 to 45% in 2021. The proportion younger than age 20 decreased from 54% in 1982 to20% in 2021. These data focus on straddle-type ATVs, as opposed to side-by-side models that have increased in popularity recently.

Deaths of ATV riders on public roads by age, 1982-2021
Year<13 years13-19 years20-29 years30-39 years40-49 years50+ yearsTotal*
Number%Number%Number%Number%Number%Number%Number%
19826171337720617003935100
19832518431229512253742100
198449173614306135111247100
19859202043122612123746100
1986111820332134610122361100
19871216182423311014685774100
198814182634212779564577100
19891314394121221011666695100
199012104436373113118776121100
19911083429423618156587118100
199287443739331210431210119100
199311114241232320202244102100
199410942373127121187109113100
199599343332311212441111102100
19961611443043292316641611148100
1997108473633251814541713130100
19981712553729202316128117147100
19991386035462726151161710173100
2000126733463303014188178213100
2001198693151234621198209224100
20022186928692839162183112250100
200322783287324491643143110301100
2004227992910130391233104313337100
200529987268926461440124614337100
2006164952610228611741114713362100
2007175792111632601660163610368100
200824683229826651746126116377100
200916570218124541661185316335100
201016551166621471556188025316100
201110347157424541854186622305100
201215540137926561853176120304100
201314448157323611948157624320100
201418637118125642046147924325100
201519642137322531650159729334100
201615451148123601749149828354100
201714551177023441536128829303100
201812529124519421747196828243100
20198334134819441733138734254100
202011350157823631950158525337100
202110349175920431548168429293100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Eightpercent of fatally injured ATV riders wore helmets in 2021.

Helmet use among fatally injured ATV riders on public roads, 2021
HelmetNo helmetTotal*
Number%Number%Number%
Driver21821483259100
Passenger13278233100
Total*22824283293100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Sixty-eightpercent of fatally injured ATV riders were killed in crashes involving no other vehicles in 2021, compared with 44% of passenger vehicle occupants killed in crashes and38% of motorcyclists.

Crash deaths by number of involved vehicles and vehicle type, 2021
Crash typeATV ridersMotorcyclistsPassenger vehicle occupants
Number%Number%Number%
Single-vehicle200682,2983811,62344
Multiple-vehicle93323,7866214,96256
All crashes2931006,08410026,585100

Among ATV riders killed in single-vehicle crashes in 2021, 62% involved the ATV rolling over during the crash. This was comparable with SUVs, pickups, and large trucks, but higher than cars (40%).

Occupant deaths in single-vehicle crashes by rollover, 2021
RolloverNo rolloverTotal
Number%Number%Number%
ATV123627739200100
Car2,311403,405605,716100
SUV1,784581,308423,092100
Pickup1,475551,199452,674100
Large trucks2956814032435100

ATV rider deaths on public roads in 2021 were highest in July. Fifty-three percent of the deaths in 2021 occurred during May-September.

ATV rider deaths on public roads by month, 2021
Deaths%
January145
February228
March3010
April3010
May3512
June3211
July3612
August2910
September248
October207
November114
December103
Total293100

Seventy-five percent of ATV riders killed on public roads in 2021 were on rural roads. Of those,88% were on minor roads.

ATV rider deaths by road type and land use, 2021
Road typeUrbanRuralTotal*
Number%Number%Number%
Noninterstate major roads2282384515
Minor roads45151936623881
Total*672321975293100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

In 2021,42% of fatally injured ATV drivers on public roads had BACs at or above 0.08%. Impairment was highest at58% among fatally injured ATV drivers ages 40-49.

Estimated number and percent of fatally injured ATV drivers with high BACs on public roads by age, 2021
AgeDeathsEstimated deaths with BACs ≥ 0.08Estimated deaths with BACs ≥ 0.15
NumberNumber%Number%
<204451137
20-295024471938
30-393815401231
40-494627581738
50+8138472733
Total259108427830
Fatality Facts 2021: Motorcycles and ATVs (2024)

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