Motorcycle crash hotspots in Costa Mesa, CA
- motorcycle crashes, 2021–2025
- 232
- motorcycle crashes, 2021–2025
- serious or fatal
- 65
- serious or fatal
- fatal
- 8
- fatal
Is Costa Mesa 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: 232 motorcycle crashes were reported in Costa Mesa from 2021–2025, 65 of them serious or fatal (8 fatal). The most were at SR-55 Southbound & I-405 (7). 24% involved no other vehicle, usually running wide or losing grip. 14% involved a car turning left across the rider.
How motorcyclists crash in Costa Mesa
- 24% involved no other vehicle, usually running wide or losing grip.
- 14% involved a car turning left across the rider.
- 23% happened after dark.
Where motorcycle crashes cluster
Spots with 3 or more reported crashes within about 250 m, worst first.
- 017 crashes · 5 serious or fatal · 1 fatal
SR-55 Southbound & I-405
Close passes and cars turning alongside
4 of 7 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.
- 028 crashes · 4 serious or fatal · 1 fatal
SR-55 Northbound & Main Street
Close passes and cars turning alongside
3 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.
- 0314 crashes · 2 serious or fatal
I-405 Southbound To SR-73 Southbound & Fairview Rd
Falls and fixed objects
7 of 14 crashes were a fall or hitting an object, with no other vehicle involved. Traffic is posted at about 65 mph.
- Enter slower than feels necessary and watch for gravel, sand and diesel. Look through the bend.
- Traffic is fast here: at this speed you cross a junction in about a second, so scan early.
- 045 crashes · 3 serious or fatal
I-405 Southbound From Bristol St & Bristol St
Falls and fixed objects
2 of 5 crashes were a fall or hitting an object, with no other vehicle involved. 40% happened after dark. Traffic is posted at about 65 mph.
- Enter slower than feels necessary and watch for gravel, sand and diesel. Look through the bend.
- 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.
- 059 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
W 19th St & Meyer Pl
Side-impact crashes at the junction
6 of 9 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.
- 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.
- 065 crashes · 1 serious or fatal · 1 fatal
I-405 Northbound To SR-55 & SR-55
Close passes and cars turning alongside
2 of 5 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.
- 076 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
E 17th St & Orange Av
A mix of crash types
- No single crash pattern stands out here. Ride within your sight distance and keep extra space.
- 084 crashes · 2 serious or fatal
Newport Bl & Industrial Wy
Riders hit from behind
2 of 4 crashes were rear-end: hit from behind. 50% happened after dark.
- Check your mirrors when slowing, flash your brake light, and leave an escape gap when you stop in traffic.
- Wear bright or reflective gear and use your high beam where you can.
- 093 crashes · 1 serious or fatal · 1 fatal
I-405 Southbound & Fairview Road
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.
- 104 crashes · 2 serious or fatal
Harbor Bl & South Coast
A mix of crash types
50% happened after dark.
- No single crash pattern stands out here. Ride within your sight distance and keep extra space.
- Wear bright or reflective gear and use your high beam where you can.
Motorcycle crashes in Costa Mesa by year
| Year | Crashes | Serious/fatal | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 34 | 14 | |
| 2022 | 46 | 11 | |
| 2023 | 53 | 14 | |
| 2024 | 50 | 17 | |
| 2025 | 49 | 9 |
Common questions about Costa Mesa
- Where do the most motorcycle crashes happen in Costa Mesa?
- The worst spot is SR-55 Southbound & I-405, with 7 reported motorcycle crashes from 2021–2025, 5 of them serious or fatal. Next are SR-55 Northbound & Main Street (8) and I-405 Southbound To SR-73 Southbound & Fairview Rd (14).
- How many motorcyclists were killed in Costa Mesa?
- 8 crashes killed someone in 232 reported motorcycle crashes in Costa Mesa from 2021–2025, and 65 left someone seriously hurt or killed.
- How do motorcyclists usually crash in Costa Mesa?
- 24% involved no other vehicle, usually running wide or losing grip. 14% involved a car turning left across the rider. 23% happened after dark.
- How many motorcycle crashes happen in Costa Mesa each year?
- Reported motorcycle crashes with map locations: 2021: 34, 2022: 46, 2023: 53, 2024: 50, 2025: 49. 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.