Fatality Facts 2022: 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 (NHTSA, 2023).

Because serious head injury is common among fatally injured motorcyclists, helmet use is important. Helmets are about 37% effective in preventing motorcycle deaths (Deutermann, 2004) and about 67% effective in preventing brain injuries (NHTSA, 2008). Yet only 17 states and the District of Columbia mandate helmet use by all riders.

All-terrain vehicles (ATVs) are not designed for on-road use, butrecently hundreds ofriders have been dying each year in crashes on public roads.

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

Posted June 2024.

Trends

A total of6,222 motorcyclists died in crashes in 2022. That is the highest number ever recorded and a23% increasesince 2019. Motorcycle deaths accounted for 15% of all motor vehicle crash deaths in 2022 and werenearly triple the number of motorcyclist deaths in 1997.

Passenger vehicle occupant deaths and motorcyclist deaths, 1975-2022

Passenger vehicle occupant and motorcyclist deaths as a percentage of all motor vehicle crash deaths, 1975-2022
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
202126,728626,1371443,230100
202225,726616,2221542,514100

The rate of unlicensed fatally injured motorcycle drivers during 2022 was higher than the rate of unlicensed fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers (36% vs. 19%). Both rates increased substantially from 2019 to 2020.

Passenger vehicle and motorcycle driver deaths by driver's license status, 2012-2022
YearPassenger vehicle driversMotorcycle drivers
No valid licenseValid licenseTotal*No valid licenseValid licenseTotal*
Number%Number%Number%Number%Number%Number%
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
20214,1522015,9587820,3491002,209383,565615,832100
20223,6541915,6728019,5651002,162363,713635,935100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Thirty-seven percent of motorcyclist deaths in 2022 occurred in single-vehicle crashes, and 63% occurred in multiple-vehicle crashes.

Motorcyclist deaths by crash type, 1975-2022
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
20212,315383,822626,137100
20222,315373,907636,222100
*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 34% in 2022. In contrast, 27% of the fatally injured motorcyclists in 2022 were younger than 30, compared with 80% in 1975.

Percentage of motorcyclist deaths by age, 1975-2022

Motorcyclist deaths by age, 1975-2022
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
20211,572261,328221,084182,145356,137100
20221,671271,348221,049172,146346,222100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Fifty-four percent of the female motorcyclists who died in crashes in 2022 were passengers, and their deaths represented 91% of the passenger deaths. The vast majority of male motorcyclists who died were drivers.

Motorcyclist deaths by person type and sex, 2022
Person typeMaleFemaleTotal*
Number%Number%Number%
Driver5,7079622245,935100
Passenger26925791283100
Total5,7369248086,222100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Helmet use

In 2022, 62% of fatally injured motorcycle drivers were helmeted. Helmet use was lower, at42%, for people killed as passengers on motorcycles.

Helmet use of fatally injured motorcycle drivers and passengers, 2022
HelmetNo helmetTotal*
Number%Number%Number%
Driver3,676622,038345,935100
Passenger1184214752283100
Total3,798612,185356,222100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

In 2022, 88% of fatally injured motorcyclists were helmeted in states with helmet laws that cover all riders, in contrast to only33% in states with no helmet law. In states with helmet laws that cover only some riders, 45% of fatally injured motorcyclists were helmeted.

Helmet use of fatally injured motorcyclists by helmet law status, 2022
HelmetNo helmetTotal*
Number%Number%Number%
No law763315064233100
Partial law1,613451,824513,581100
Universal law2,1098821192,408100
Total3,798612,185356,222100
*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 2022, 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, 1985-2022

Motorcycle driver deaths by motorcycle engine size, 1985-2022
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
20202,48847705131,782345,307
20212,72747761131,998345,832
20222,87748748132,034345,935
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Among the motorcycles whose drivers were killed in 2022, 95% 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, 2022
0-1,000 cc1,001-1,400 cc>1,400 ccTotal *
Number%Number%Number%Number%
Cruiser/standard5052941924812471,736100
Touring715951,182951,248100
Sport-touring162258780074100
Sport/unclad sport6607915118253836100
Supersport1,20398212001,224100
Off-road98100000098100
Other/unknown38854406152719100
Total2,87748748132,034345,935100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Among fatally injured motorcycle drivers in 2022, 19% of cruiser or standard motorcycle drivers wereyounger than 30and only 6% of touring bike drivers were under 30. In contrast,48% of fatally injured supersport drivers in 2022 were younger than 30.

Fatally injured motorcycle drivers by age and motorcycle type, 2022
<30 years30-39 years40-49 years50+ yearsTotal *
Number%Number%Number%Number%Number%
Cruiser/standard328193612130117745431,736100
Touring7461611323719775621,248100
Sport-touring811681622445974100
Sport/unclad sport37745219261331610713836100
Supersport5934838131178157261,224100
Off-road5758202012129998100
Other/unknown16623135191221729341719100
Total1,603271,28322999172,045345,935100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

At 84%, helmet use was highest among fatally injured drivers of supersport motorcycles in 2022, followed closely bysport/unclad sport at 79% and then sport-touring at 74%. 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, 2022
HelmetNo helmetTotal*
Number%Number%Number%
Cruiser/standard94454735421,736100
Touring60649589471,248100
Sport-touring5574172374100
Sport/unclad sport6607914617836100
Supersport1,02984169141,224100
Off-road2728686998100
Other2355815738408100
Unknown1203915750311100
Total3,676622,038345,935100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

When and where they died

Sixtypercent of motorcyclist deaths in 2022 occurred during May-September. Fatalities peaked in June and were lowest in January.

Motorcyclist deaths by month, 2022
MonthDeaths%
January1823
February2714
March4137
April5268
May73112
June77712
July77112
August73512
September71612
October5679
November3355
December1983
Total6,222100

Forty-six percent of motorcyclist deaths in 2022 occurred on weekends, and those deaths were more likely to occur after 6 p.m. compared with weekdays.

Motorcyclist deaths by time of day, 2022
Weekend (6 p.m. Friday - 6 a.m. Monday)Other timesTotal
Number%Number%
Midnight - 3 a.m.317102167533
3 a.m. - 6 a.m.11031214231
6 a.m. - 9 a.m.8132909371
9 a.m. - noon202731110513
Noon - 3 p.m.4051453916944
3 p.m. - 6 p.m.49817794231,292
6 p.m. - 9 p.m.74026626191,366
9 p.m. - midnight4991743113930
Total*2,8691003,3531006,222
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Fifty-six percent of motorcyclist deaths in 2022 occurred on major roads other than interstates and freeways. Deaths were more likely to occur in urban than rural areas (66% vs. 34%).

Motorcyclist deaths by location of crash, 2022
Road TypeUrbanRuralTotal*
Number%Number%Number%
Interstates and freeways60610125273112
Noninterstate major roads2,53841937153,47556
Minor roads944151,042171,98632
Total*4,096662,113346,222100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Alcohol involvement

Twenty-nine percent of fatally injured motorcycle drivers in 2022 had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) at or above 0.08%; in single-vehicle crashes this was42%.

Estimated number and percent of fatally injured motorcycle drivers with high BACs by crash type, 2022
Crash typeDeathsEstimated deaths with BACs ≥ 0.08Estimated deaths with BACs ≥ 0.15
NumberNumber%Number%
Single-vehicle2,2139364259327
Multiple-vehicle3,7227692144712
All crashes5,9351,705291,04118

Forty-nine percent of motorcycle drivers killed at night (9 p.m. - 6 a.m.) in 2022 had BACs at or above 0.08%.

Estimated number and percent of fatally injured motorcycle drivers with high BACs by time of day, 2022
Time of dayDeathsEstimated deaths with BACs ≥ 0.08Estimated deaths with BACs ≥ 0.15
NumberNumber%Number%
Nighttime (9 p.m. - 6 a.m.)1,6107914949030
Other times4,3259132155113
Total5,9351,705291,04118

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 48% in 2022. The proportion younger than age 20 decreased from 54% in 1982 to20% in 2022. 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, 1982-2022
Year<13 years13-19 years20-29 years30-39 years40-49 years50+ yearsTotal*
Number%Number%Number%Number%Number%Number%Number%
19826171337720617003935100
19832518431229512253742100
198449173614306135111247100
19859192043122612123647100
1986111820332134610122361100
19871216182423311014685774100
198814182634212779564577100
19891314394121221011666695100
199012104436373113118776121100
19911083429423618156587118100
199287443739331210431210119100
199311114241232320202244102100
199410942373127121187109113100
199599343332311212441111102100
19961611443043292316641611148100
1997108473633251814541713131100
19981712553729202316128117147100
19991386035462726151161710173100
2000126733463303014188178213100
2001198693151234621198209224100
20022186927692739162183112251100
200322783287324491643143110301100
2004227992910130391233104313337100
200529987268926461440124614337100
2006164952610228611741114713362100
2007175792111632601660163610368100
200824683229826651746126116377100
200916570218124541661185316335100
201016551166621471556188025316100
201110347157424541854186622305100
201215540137926561853176120304100
201314448157323611948157624320100
201418637118125642046147924325100
201519642137322531650159729334100
201615451148123601749149828354100
201714551177023441536128829303100
201812529124519421747196828243100
20198334134819441733138734254100
202011350157823631950158525337100
202111449166221451547168428298100
202215635145321301248197429256100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Fourteen percent of fatally injured ATV riders wore helmets in 2022.

Helmet use among fatally injured ATV riders on public roads, 2022
HelmetNo helmetTotal*
Number%Number%Number%
Driver351517476229100
Passenger00269627100
Total*351420078256100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Sixty-nine percent of fatally injured ATV riders were killed in crashes involving no other vehicles in 2022, compared with 45% of passenger vehicle occupants killed in crashes and37% of motorcyclists.

Crash deaths by number of involved vehicles and vehicle type, 2022
Crash typeATV ridersMotorcyclistsPassenger vehicle occupants
Number%Number%Number%
Single-vehicle176692,3153711,45745
Multiple-vehicle80313,9076314,26855
All crashes2561006,22210025,725100

Among ATV riders killed in single-vehicle crashes in 2022, 66% involved the ATV rolling over during the crash. This was comparable to the percentage for SUVs, pickups and large trucks, but higher than that for cars (42%).

Occupant deaths in single-vehicle crashes by rollover, 2022
RolloverNo rolloverTotal
Number%Number%Number%
ATV116666034176100
Car2,295423,167585,462100
SUV1,789561,429443,218100
Pickup1,433541,198462,631100
Large trucks2996516335462100

ATV rider deaths on public roads in 2022 were highest in July.Sixty-two percent of the deaths in 2022 occurred during May-September.

ATV rider deaths on public roads by month, 2022
Deaths%
January114
February83
March145
April208
May2911
June3213
July4618
August3213
September208
October2711
November94
December83
Total256100

Seventy-four percent of ATV riders killed on public roads in 2022 were on rural roads. Of those,82% were on minor roads.

ATV rider deaths by road type and land use, 2022
Road typeUrbanRuralTotal*
Number%Number%Number%
Interstates and freeways101021
Noninterstate major roads1771773413
Minor roads38151556119375
Total*562218974256100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

In 2022,41% of fatally injured ATV drivers on public roads had BACs at or above 0.08%. Impairment was highest at 60% 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, 2022
AgeDeathsEstimated deaths with BACs ≥ 0.08Estimated deaths with BACs ≥ 0.15
NumberNumber%Number%
<20373924
20-294620431022
30-39291553930
40-494527602249
50+7127392231
Total*22994416529
*Total includes other and/or unknowns
Fatality Facts 2022: Motorcycles and ATVs (2024)
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