Motorcycle crash hotspots in Berkeley, CA
- motorcycle crashes, 2021–2025
- 167
- motorcycle crashes, 2021–2025
- serious or fatal
- 39
- serious or fatal
- fatal
- 5
- fatal
Is Berkeley safe to ride a motorcycle?
We don't rate cities as safe or unsafe: crash counts can't say how risky a street is, and busy streets have more crashes partly because more people use them. What the records show: 167 motorcycle crashes were reported in Berkeley from 2021–2025, 39 of them serious or fatal (5 fatal). The most were at I-80 & University Ave (8). 14% involved no other vehicle, usually running wide or losing grip. 17% involved a car turning left across the rider.
How motorcyclists crash in Berkeley
- 14% involved no other vehicle, usually running wide or losing grip.
- 17% involved a car turning left across the rider.
- 25% happened after dark.
Where motorcycle crashes cluster
Spots with 3 or more reported crashes within about 250 m, worst first.
- 018 crashes · 2 serious or fatal · 1 fatal
I-80 & University Ave
Close passes and cars turning alongside
6 of 8 crashes were sideswipes: a vehicle alongside, typically a close pass, a right hook, or an opening car door. Traffic is posted at about 65 mph.
- Don't linger in drivers' blind spots, and watch for cars changing lanes or turning into driveways alongside you.
- Traffic is fast here: at this speed you cross a junction in about a second, so scan early.
- 026 crashes · 4 serious or fatal
Ashby Av & Harper St
Riders hit from behind
3 of 6 crashes were rear-end: hit from behind.
- Check your mirrors when slowing, flash your brake light, and leave an escape gap when you stop in traffic.
- 038 crashes · 2 serious or fatal
I-80 & Gilman St
Riders hit from behind
5 of 8 crashes were rear-end: hit from behind. Traffic is posted at about 65 mph.
- Check your mirrors when slowing, flash your brake light, and leave an escape gap when you stop in traffic.
- Traffic is fast here: at this speed you cross a junction in about a second, so scan early.
- 045 crashes · 1 serious or fatal · 1 fatal
I-80 & Buchanan St
Close passes and cars turning alongside
3 of 5 crashes were sideswipes: a vehicle alongside, typically a close pass, a right hook, or an opening car door. 40% happened after dark. Traffic is posted at about 65 mph.
- Don't linger in drivers' blind spots, and watch for cars changing lanes or turning into driveways alongside you.
- Wear bright or reflective gear and use your high beam where you can.
- Traffic is fast here: at this speed you cross a junction in about a second, so scan early.
- 056 crashes · 2 serious or fatal
I-80 & Gilman St
A mix of crash types
Traffic is posted at about 65 mph.
- No single crash pattern stands out here. Ride within your sight distance and keep extra space.
- Traffic is fast here: at this speed you cross a junction in about a second, so scan early.
- 065 crashes · 2 serious or fatal
I-80 & University Ave
Riders hit from behind
3 of 5 crashes were rear-end: hit from behind. Traffic is posted at about 65 mph.
- Check your mirrors when slowing, flash your brake light, and leave an escape gap when you stop in traffic.
- Traffic is fast here: at this speed you cross a junction in about a second, so scan early.
- 074 crashes · 2 serious or fatal
Kittredge & Oxford St
Side-impact crashes at the junction
3 of 4 crashes were broadside: a vehicle hit at an angle, usually a driver pulling out of a side street or driveway, turning across, or running the signal. 100% happened after dark.
- Cover your brakes through the junction and watch the front wheels of cars waiting to pull out or turn left. Drivers misjudge how fast a motorcycle is coming.
- Wear bright or reflective gear and use your high beam where you can.
- 085 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
Durant & Telegraph
Close passes and cars turning alongside
3 of 5 crashes were sideswipes: a vehicle alongside, typically a close pass, a right hook, or an opening car door. 60% happened after dark.
- Don't linger in drivers' blind spots, and watch for cars changing lanes or turning into driveways alongside you.
- Wear bright or reflective gear and use your high beam where you can.
- 093 crashes · 2 serious or fatal
I-80 & University Ave
Close passes and cars turning alongside
3 of 3 crashes were sideswipes: a vehicle alongside, typically a close pass, a right hook, or an opening car door. Traffic is posted at about 65 mph. 67% were hit-and-run.
- Don't linger in drivers' blind spots, and watch for cars changing lanes or turning into driveways alongside you.
- Traffic is fast here: at this speed you cross a junction in about a second, so scan early.
- 103 crashes · 2 serious or fatal
Ashby & California
Side-impact crashes at the junction
2 of 3 crashes were broadside: a vehicle hit at an angle, usually a driver pulling out of a side street or driveway, turning across, or running the signal. 67% happened after dark.
- Cover your brakes through the junction and watch the front wheels of cars waiting to pull out or turn left. Drivers misjudge how fast a motorcycle is coming.
- Wear bright or reflective gear and use your high beam where you can.
Motorcycle crashes in Berkeley by year
| Year | Crashes | Serious/fatal | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 32 | 8 | |
| 2022 | 38 | 10 | |
| 2023 | 36 | 10 | |
| 2024 | 34 | 7 | |
| 2025 | 27 | 4 |
Common questions about Berkeley
- Where do the most motorcycle crashes happen in Berkeley?
- The worst spot is I-80 & University Ave, with 8 reported motorcycle crashes from 2021–2025, 2 of them serious or fatal. Next are Ashby Av & Harper St (6) and I-80 & Gilman St (8).
- How many motorcyclists were killed in Berkeley?
- 5 crashes killed someone in 167 reported motorcycle crashes in Berkeley from 2021–2025, and 39 left someone seriously hurt or killed.
- How do motorcyclists usually crash in Berkeley?
- 14% involved no other vehicle, usually running wide or losing grip. 17% involved a car turning left across the rider. 25% happened after dark.
- How many motorcycle crashes happen in Berkeley each year?
- Reported motorcycle crashes with map locations: 2021: 32, 2022: 38, 2023: 36, 2024: 34, 2025: 27. The latest year can rise as late reports come in.
- Where does this data come from?
- Police crash reports in the California Crash Reporting System (CCRS), published by the state on data.ca.gov. Only crashes reported with map coordinates are counted, so the real totals are higher.
Nearby cities
Source: California Crash Reporting System (CCRS), 2021–2025. Only crashes reported with map coordinates are counted, and many city police reports have none, so these numbers are lower than the real total. Freeway crashes are included: many motorcycle crashes in cities happen on them. Busy streets show more crashes partly because more people use them. Data last rebuilt 2026-09-22. How the data works.