Data
Motorcycle deaths by state, 2024
How many motorcyclists died in each state, and what share of the state's traffic deaths they make up.
By Serdar Arslan, editor · Last reviewed · How we research
In 2024 there were 6,228 motorcyclists killed in the United States, 16% of all traffic deaths. The share was highest in New Hampshire (26%), Hawaii (25%) and Connecticut (24%), and lowest in Mississippi (7%). By count, Florida (642), Texas (583) and California (522) had the most, and the five largest totals add up to 35% of the national figure. 29 of the 50 states were above the national share.
The thin black line marks the United States figure (16%).
- 1New Hampshire26% (35)
- 2Hawaii25% (26)
- 3Connecticut24% (75)
- 4Colorado24% (165)
- 5South Dakota23% (33)
- 6Wyoming22% (24)
- 7Nevada21% (89)
- 8Florida20% (642)
- 9Maine20% (35)
- 10Idaho20% (47)
- 11Massachusetts19% (70)
- 12Pennsylvania19% (217)
- 13Ohio19% (222)
- 14Utah19% (53)
- 15New York19% (209)
- 16North Dakota19% (17)
- 17Montana18% (38)
- 18Arizona18% (219)
- 19Wisconsin18% (106)
- 20Iowa18% (63)
- 21Delaware17% (22)
- 22Michigan17% (184)
- 23New Jersey17% (112)
- 24Kentucky17% (118)
- 25Kansas17% (56)
- 26Indiana16% (137)
- 27Maryland16% (95)
- 28Oklahoma16% (106)
- 29Minnesota16% (76)
- 30Oregon16% (85)
- 31Tennessee16% (188)
- 32Washington15% (113)
- 33Rhode Island15% (8)
- 34Missouri15% (145)
- 35West Virginia15% (38)
- 36South Carolina15% (154)
- 37Alaska14% (10)
- 38Texas14% (583)
- 39California13% (522)
- 40Virginia13% (122)
- 41Alabama13% (127)
- 42North Carolina13% (212)
- 43Georgia13% (182)
- 44Nebraska13% (32)
- 45Illinois13% (149)
- 46Arkansas13% (76)
- 47New Mexico12% (50)
- 48Vermont12% (7)
- 49Louisiana9% (70)
- 50Mississippi7% (55)
How these numbers are counted
Counts are motorcycle riders and passengers killed, from NHTSA's state table of occupants killed by vehicle type. States with long riding seasons and many riders tend to rank higher, so a high share is not by itself a measure of how dangerous the roads are. Shares are our calculation: the count divided by the state's total traffic deaths in NHTSA's tables. Small states can move several points from one year to the next because the counts are small. Recent-year figures can be revised.
What it means for a claim
Motorcycle claims usually turn on whether the other driver saw the rider and whether the insurer tries to blame the rider's speed or lane position. Helmet use can also become an issue in some states. See motorcycle accident claims, comparative fault explained and uninsured motorist claims.
More state data
- Traffic deaths by state: map, rates per mile and per resident, and the trend since 1994
- Drunk driving deaths by state
- Pedestrian deaths by state