Fatality Facts 2021Motorcycles and ATVs

Overview

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 deaths Deutermann, 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 years hundreds of riders 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).

Posted May 2023.

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 years 30-39 years 40-49 years ≥50 years Total*
Number % Number % Number % Number % Number %
1975 2,538 80 428 13 129 4 81 3 3,180 100
1976 2,631 80 429 13 143 4 101 3 3,306 100
1977 3,279 80 537 13 149 4 129 3 4,099 100
1978 3,639 80 613 13 185 4 130 3 4,574 100
1979 3,732 76 747 15 233 5 173 4 4,892 100
1980 3,756 73 918 18 278 5 182 4 5,138 100
1981 3,594 73 850 17 262 5 181 4 4,896 100
1982 3,210 72 808 18 253 6 167 4 4,449 100
1983 3,074 72 776 18 239 6 165 4 4,260 100
1984 3,285 71 833 18 275 6 195 4 4,602 100
1985 3,265 72 861 19 247 5 184 4 4,562 100
1986 3,218 70 913 20 268 6 156 3 4,566 100
1987 2,727 68 853 21 286 7 168 4 4,034 100
1988 2,426 66 774 21 290 8 170 5 3,661 100
1989 1,927 61 760 24 288 9 157 5 3,135 100
1990 1,961 60 816 25 277 9 188 6 3,243 100
1991 1,629 58 728 26 296 11 151 5 2,805 100
1992 1,299 54 652 27 280 12 164 7 2,395 100
1993 1,267 52 665 27 335 14 176 7 2,445 100
1994 1,168 50 607 26 346 15 195 8 2,317 100
1995 1,103 50 576 26 359 16 188 8 2,226 100
1996 965 45 555 26 420 19 221 10 2,161 100
1997 860 41 556 26 405 19 294 14 2,116 100
1998 921 40 612 27 475 21 285 12 2,294 100
1999 898 36 612 25 570 23 403 16 2,483 100
2000 1,006 35 706 24 677 23 501 17 2,895 100
2001 1,134 35 798 25 729 23 532 17 3,195 100
2002 1,042 32 780 24 769 24 674 21 3,267 100
2003 1,179 32 837 23 903 24 789 21 3,710 100
2004 1,297 32 875 22 971 24 883 22 4,026 100
2005 1,441 31 975 21 1,027 22 1,131 25 4,575 100
2006 1,524 32 1,000 21 1,107 23 1,178 24 4,810 100
2007 1,581 31 1,043 20 1,173 23 1,372 27 5,174 100
2008 1,620 31 989 19 1,178 22 1,518 29 5,307 100
2009 1,186 27 851 19 1,016 23 1,411 32 4,467 100
2010 1,171 26 814 18 996 22 1,535 34 4,517 100
2011 1,228 27 827 18 944 20 1,630 35 4,630 100
2012 1,290 26 913 18 990 20 1,792 36 4,986 100
2013 1,281 27 817 17 953 20 1,640 35 4,691 100
2014 1,276 30 725 17 747 17 1,553 36 4,302 100
2015 1,477 29 855 17 884 18 1,808 36 5,026 100
2016 1,508 28 963 18 905 17 1,955 37 5,337 100
2017 1,481 28 964 18 892 17 1,889 36 5,229 100
2018 1,396 28 934 19 864 17 1,844 37 5,038 100
2019 1,388 28 962 19 816 16 1,876 37 5,044 100
2020 1,486 26 1,192 21 930 17 2,006 36 5,619 100
2021 1,555 26 1,310 22 1,078 18 2,133 35 6,084 100

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

Motorcyclist deaths by age and sex, 2021
Age Male Female Total*
Number % Number % Number %
<16 28 90 3 10 31 100
16-19 195 94 11 5 208 100
20-24 562 94 37 6 600 100
25-29 672 94 42 6 716 100
30-34 670 92 55 8 725 100
35-39 549 94 35 6 585 100
40-44 478 90 56 10 534 100
45-49 491 90 52 10 544 100
50-54 502 90 56 10 558 100
55-59 487 90 54 10 541 100
60-69 659 90 72 10 732 100
≥70 288 95 14 5 302 100
Total* 5,587 92 488 8 6,084 100

Fifty-seven percent 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 type Male Female Total*
Number % Number % Number %
Driver 5,564 96 212 4 5,785 100
Passenger 23 8 276 92 299 100
Total 5,587 92 488 8 6,084 100

Helmet use

In 2021, 60% of fatally injured motorcycle drivers were helmeted. Helmet use was lower, at 46%, for people killed as passengers on motorcycles.

Helmet use of fatally injured motorcycle drivers and passengers, 2021
Helmet No helmet Total*
Number % Number % Number %
Driver 3,445 60 2,144 37 5,785 100
Passenger 138 46 150 50 299 100
Total 3,583 59 2,294 38 6,084 100

In 2021, 87% of fatally injured motorcyclists were helmeted in states with helmet laws that cover all riders, in contrast to only 31% 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
Helmet No helmet Total*
Number % Number % Number %
No law 85 31 179 66 270 100
Partial law 1,474 42 1,902 54 3,493 100
Universal law 2,024 87 213 9 2,321 100
Total 3,583 59 2,294 38 6,084 100

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
Year 0-1,000 cc 1,001-1,400 cc >1,400 cc Total*
Number % Number % Number % Number
1985 2,682 67 614 15 0 0 4,021
1986 2,822 70 625 16 0 0 4,019
1987 2,515 70 602 17 0 0 3,590
1988 2,219 68 617 19 6 <1 3,281
1989 1,879 68 539 19 3 <1 2,780
1990 1,937 67 620 21 5 <1 2,895
1991 1,672 67 556 22 13 1 2,496
1992 1,389 64 522 24 8 <1 2,172
1993 1,371 62 586 26 11 <1 2,212
1994 1,244 59 540 26 15 1 2,092
1995 1,215 60 568 28 22 1 2,020
1996 1,135 58 552 28 38 2 1,962
1997 1,079 56 618 32 33 2 1,937
1998 1,169 56 650 31 46 2 2,089
1999 1,099 48 644 28 99 4 2,286
2000 1,371 52 779 29 234 9 2,651
2001 1,553 53 781 26 309 10 2,953
2002 1,506 50 737 24 482 16 3,031
2003 1,641 48 830 24 614 18 3,423
2004 1,797 48 813 22 724 20 3,711
2005 2,092 49 932 22 865 20 4,253
2006 2,200 49 862 19 1,018 23 4,492
2007 2,425 50 917 19 1,120 23 4,853
2008 2,360 47 877 18 1,245 25 4,970
2009 1,847 44 736 18 1,144 27 4,163
2010 1,772 42 731 17 1,182 28 4,207
2011 1,980 46 755 17 1,183 27 4,341
2012 2,027 44 791 17 1,316 28 4,652
2013 2,063 47 703 16 1,281 29 4,422
2014 1,890 47 678 17 1,286 32 4,041
2015 2,244 47 741 16 1,400 30 4,732
2016 2,314 46 759 15 1,581 32 4,998
2017 2,295 46 726 15 1,606 33 4,941
2018 2,197 47 664 14 1,586 34 4,724
2019 2,193 46 679 14 1,624 34 4,763
2020 2,486 47 705 13 1,781 34 5,307
2021 2,697 47 757 13 1,982 34 5,785

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 cc 1,001-1,400 cc >1,400 cc Total *
Number % Number % Number % Number %
Cruiser/standard 459 26 438 25 836 48 1,733 100
Touring 1 <1 66 6 1,117 94 1,184 100
Sport-touring 16 23 53 77 0 0 69 100
Sport/unclad sport 589 80 140 19 9 1 738 100
Supersport 1,152 99 17 1 0 0 1,169 100
Off-road 121 100 0 0 0 0 121 100
Other/unknown 359 47 43 6 20 3 771 100
Total 2,697 47 757 13 1,982 34 5,785 100

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 years 30-39 years 40-49 years 50+ years Total *
Number % Number % Number % Number % Number %
Cruiser/standard 297 17 320 18 331 19 784 45 1,733 100
Touring 80 7 143 12 258 22 701 59 1,184 100
Sport-touring 6 9 9 13 11 16 43 62 69 100
Sport/unclad sport 339 46 188 25 117 16 93 13 738 100
Supersport 540 46 387 33 173 15 68 6 1,169 100
Off-road 69 57 31 26 9 7 12 10 121 100
Other/unknown 164 21 176 23 117 15 311 40 771 100
Total 1,495 26 1,254 22 1,016 18 2,012 35 5,785 100

At 81%, helmet use was highest among fatally injured drivers of supersport motorcycles in 2021, followed closely by sport/unclad sport at 80% and then sport-touring at 67%. 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
Helmet No helmet Total*
Number % Number % Number %
Cruiser/standard 897 52 794 46 1,733 100
Touring 590 50 559 47 1,184 100
Sport-touring 46 67 17 25 69 100
Sport/unclad sport 590 80 132 18 738 100
Supersport 946 81 179 15 1,169 100
Off-road 35 29 82 68 121 100
Other 204 53 165 43 382 100
Unknown 137 35 216 56 389 100
Total 3,445 60 2,144 37 5,785 100

When and where they died

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

Motorcyclist deaths by month, 2021
Month Deaths %
January 201 3
February 181 3
March 419 7
April 548 9
May 683 11
June 730 12
July 721 12
August 723 12
September 720 12
October 569 9
November 326 5
December 263 4
Total 6,084 100

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 times Total
Number % Number %
Midnight - 3 a.m. 330 11 178 5 508
3 a.m. - 6 a.m. 117 4 110 4 227
6 a.m. - 9 a.m. 77 3 241 7 318
9 a.m. - noon 184 6 258 9 442
Noon - 3 p.m. 435 15 470 16 905
3 p.m. - 6 p.m. 544 19 749 24 1,293
6 p.m. - 9 p.m. 720 24 659 22 1,379
9 p.m. - midnight 538 18 436 14 974
Total* 2,962 100 3,122 100 6,084

Fifty-four percent 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 Type Urban Rural Total*
Number % Number % Number %
Interstates and freeways 592 10 103 2 695 11
Noninterstate major roads 2,398 39 863 14 3,261 54
Minor roads 1,102 18 997 16 2,099 35
Total* 4,093 67 1,966 32 6,084 100

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 was 43%.

Estimated number and percent of fatally injured motorcycle drivers with high BACs by crash type, 2021
Crash type Deaths Estimated deaths with BACs ≥ 0.08 Estimated deaths with BACs ≥ 0.15
Number Number % Number %
Single-vehicle 2,166 930 43 618 29
Multiple-vehicle 3,619 729 20 411 11
All crashes 5,785 1,659 29 1,029 18

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 day Deaths Estimated deaths with BACs ≥ 0.08 Estimated deaths with BACs ≥ 0.15
Number Number % Number %
Nighttime (9 p.m. - 6 a.m.) 1,618 786 49 506 31
Other times 4,167 873 21 522 13
Total 5,785 1,659 29 1,029 18

ATVs

Deaths of ATV riders on public roads have increased dramatically since 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 to 20% 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 years 13-19 years 20-29 years 30-39 years 40-49 years 50+ years Total*
Number % Number % Number % Number % Number % Number % Number %
1982 6 17 13 37 7 20 6 17 0 0 3 9 35 100
1983 2 5 18 43 12 29 5 12 2 5 3 7 42 100
1984 4 9 17 36 14 30 6 13 5 11 1 2 47 100
1985 9 20 20 43 12 26 1 2 1 2 3 7 46 100
1986 11 18 20 33 21 34 6 10 1 2 2 3 61 100
1987 12 16 18 24 23 31 10 14 6 8 5 7 74 100
1988 14 18 26 34 21 27 7 9 5 6 4 5 77 100
1989 13 14 39 41 21 22 10 11 6 6 6 6 95 100
1990 12 10 44 36 37 31 13 11 8 7 7 6 121 100
1991 10 8 34 29 42 36 18 15 6 5 8 7 118 100
1992 8 7 44 37 39 33 12 10 4 3 12 10 119 100
1993 11 11 42 41 23 23 20 20 2 2 4 4 102 100
1994 10 9 42 37 31 27 12 11 8 7 10 9 113 100
1995 9 9 34 33 32 31 12 12 4 4 11 11 102 100
1996 16 11 44 30 43 29 23 16 6 4 16 11 148 100
1997 10 8 47 36 33 25 18 14 5 4 17 13 130 100
1998 17 12 55 37 29 20 23 16 12 8 11 7 147 100
1999 13 8 60 35 46 27 26 15 11 6 17 10 173 100
2000 12 6 73 34 63 30 30 14 18 8 17 8 213 100
2001 19 8 69 31 51 23 46 21 19 8 20 9 224 100
2002 21 8 69 28 69 28 39 16 21 8 31 12 250 100
2003 22 7 83 28 73 24 49 16 43 14 31 10 301 100
2004 22 7 99 29 101 30 39 12 33 10 43 13 337 100
2005 29 9 87 26 89 26 46 14 40 12 46 14 337 100
2006 16 4 95 26 102 28 61 17 41 11 47 13 362 100
2007 17 5 79 21 116 32 60 16 60 16 36 10 368 100
2008 24 6 83 22 98 26 65 17 46 12 61 16 377 100
2009 16 5 70 21 81 24 54 16 61 18 53 16 335 100
2010 16 5 51 16 66 21 47 15 56 18 80 25 316 100
2011 10 3 47 15 74 24 54 18 54 18 66 22 305 100
2012 15 5 40 13 79 26 56 18 53 17 61 20 304 100
2013 14 4 48 15 73 23 61 19 48 15 76 24 320 100
2014 18 6 37 11 81 25 64 20 46 14 79 24 325 100
2015 19 6 42 13 73 22 53 16 50 15 97 29 334 100
2016 15 4 51 14 81 23 60 17 49 14 98 28 354 100
2017 14 5 51 17 70 23 44 15 36 12 88 29 303 100
2018 12 5 29 12 45 19 42 17 47 19 68 28 243 100
2019 8 3 34 13 48 19 44 17 33 13 87 34 254 100
2020 11 3 50 15 78 23 63 19 50 15 85 25 337 100
2021 10 3 49 17 59 20 43 15 48 16 84 29 293 100

Eight percent of fatally injured ATV riders wore helmets in 2021.

Helmet use among fatally injured ATV riders on public roads, 2021
Helmet No helmet Total*
Number % Number % Number %
Driver 21 8 214 83 259 100
Passenger 1 3 27 82 33 100
Total* 22 8 242 83 293 100

Sixty-eight percent 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 and 38% of motorcyclists.

Crash deaths by number of involved vehicles and vehicle type, 2021
Crash type ATV riders Motorcyclists Passenger vehicle occupants
Number % Number % Number %
Single-vehicle 200 68 2,298 38 11,623 44
Multiple-vehicle 93 32 3,786 62 14,962 56
All crashes 293 100 6,084 100 26,585 100

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
Rollover No rollover Total
Number % Number % Number %
ATV 123 62 77 39 200 100
Car 2,311 40 3,405 60 5,716 100
SUV 1,784 58 1,308 42 3,092 100
Pickup 1,475 55 1,199 45 2,674 100
Large trucks 295 68 140 32 435 100

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 %
January 14 5
February 22 8
March 30 10
April 30 10
May 35 12
June 32 11
July 36 12
August 29 10
September 24 8
October 20 7
November 11 4
December 10 3
Total 293 100

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 type Urban Rural Total*
Number % Number % Number %
Noninterstate major roads 22 8 23 8 45 15
Minor roads 45 15 193 66 238 81
Total* 67 23 219 75 293 100

In 2021, 42% of fatally injured ATV drivers on public roads had BACs at or above 0.08%. Impairment was highest at 58% 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
Age Deaths Estimated deaths with BACs ≥ 0.08 Estimated deaths with BACs ≥ 0.15
Number Number % Number %
<20 44 5 11 3 7
20-29 50 24 47 19 38
30-39 38 15 40 12 31
40-49 46 27 58 17 38
50+ 81 38 47 27 33
Total 259 108 42 78 30