Motorcycle crash statistics and hotspots in National City, CA
- motorcycle crashes, 2021–2026
- 206
- motorcycle crashes, 2021–2026
- serious or fatal
- 41
- serious or fatal
- fatal
- 3
- fatal
- street with the most
- I-5
- street with the most
Where they cluster
All 10 spots, explainedIs National City safe to ride a motorcycle?
This page covers traffic crashes, not crime. 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: 206 motorcycle crashes were reported in National City from 2021–2026, 41 of them serious or fatal (3 fatal). The most were at I-5 & Mile Of Cars Way U (20). 22% involved no other vehicle, usually running wide or losing grip. 9% involved a car turning left across the rider.
Where to look next
How motorcyclists crash in National City
- 22% involved no other vehicle, usually running wide or losing grip.
- 9% involved a car turning left across the rider.
- 18% happened after dark.
What the reports show about motorcycle crashes in National City
- 18% (California: 25%) of crashes happened after dark.
- 100% (California: 80%) were on roads posted 40 mph or faster.
- 20% (California: 28%) left someone seriously hurt or killed.
- The busiest hour was 7 a.m. (California: 5 p.m.).
- 2% (California: 2%) were on a wet road, as the report records it.
Set against all motorcycle crashes in California, 2021–2026. Without traffic counts these can't say how risky a street is.
Where motorcycle crashes cluster
Spots with 3 or more reported crashes within about 250 m, worst first.
- 0120 crashes · 5 serious or fatal
I-5 & Mile Of Cars Way U
Close passes and cars turning alongside
Police reports: in 8 of 20, a driver drifted out of the lane or onto the wrong side. 13 of 20 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.
- 0213 crashes · 3 serious or fatal
I-805 & 4th St
Falls and fixed objects
5 of 13 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.
- 033 crashes · 2 serious or fatal · 2 fatal
I-805 & 47th St
Falls and fixed objects
2 of 3 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.
- 0410 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
I-5 & Mile Of Cars Way U
Close passes and cars turning alongside
7 of 10 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.
- 058 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
I-5 & SR-54
Close passes and cars turning alongside
4 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.
- 069 crashes
I-5 & 18th St
Close passes and cars turning alongside
Police reports: in 4 of 9, a driver drifted out of the lane or onto the wrong side. 8 of 9 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.
- 077 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
I-805 & 16th Street O
Close passes and cars turning alongside
5 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.
- 085 crashes · 2 serious or fatal
Highland Ave & 24th St
Side-impact crashes at the junction
Police reports: in 2 of 5, a driver didn't yield while turning left. 2 of 5 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. 80% 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.
- 094 crashes · 2 serious or fatal
I-805 & 18th St
Riders hit from behind
2 of 4 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.
- 103 crashes · 1 serious or fatal · 1 fatal
8th St & R Ave
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. Traffic is posted at about 65 mph.
- 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.
- Traffic is fast here: at this speed you cross a junction in about a second, so scan early.
Streets with the most motorcycle crashes in National City
| Street | Crashes | Serious/fatal |
|---|---|---|
| I-5 | 78 | 8 |
| I-805 | 39 | 10 |
| SR-54 | 14 | 3 |
| Highland Ave | 11 | 4 |
| 8th St | 7 | 2 |
| Plaza Blvd | 7 | 2 |
| Sweetwater Rd | 6 | 0 |
| 30th St | 3 | 3 |
| East 16th St | 3 | 2 |
| Division St | 3 | 1 |
Reported motorcycle crashes, 2021–2026, counted by the street each police report names first, so a crash at a corner counts toward one of its two streets. Long, busy streets collect more crashes partly because more people use them.
What the police reports say drivers did in National City
| A driver… | Crashes | |
|---|---|---|
| drifted out of the lane or onto the wrong side | 31 | |
| turned or changed lanes when it wasn't clear | 22 | |
| didn't yield while turning left | 5 | |
| drove too fast for conditions | 4 | |
| started or backed up when it wasn't clear | 4 | |
| didn't yield pulling out of a driveway or alley | 3 | |
| ran a red light | 3 | |
| drove under the influence | 2 |
The other vehicle, where the report names one: 101 cars, 29 SUVs, 15 pickup trucks and 3 minivans. In 8 crashes the report says the other driver had been drinking or was on drugs.
Reported motorcycle crashes, 2021–2026. The officer names one party and one Vehicle Code section as the main cause of each crash; these are the crashes where that party was a driver. It is the officer's reading at the scene, not a court's finding, and many reports name the person on foot or on a bike instead, which we don't list.
Motorcycle crashes in National City by year
| Year | Crashes | Serious/fatal | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 28 | 7 | |
| 2022 | 35 | 2 | |
| 2023 | 31 | 7 | |
| 2024 | 44 | 9 | |
| 2025 | 25 | 8 | |
| 2026to Oct 19 | 43 | 8 |
2026 runs to Oct 19, the newest report in the data, and police reports keep arriving for months, so it isn't a full year.
Common questions about National City
- Where do the most motorcycle crashes happen in National City?
- The worst spot is I-5 & Mile Of Cars Way U, with 20 reported motorcycle crashes from 2021–2026, 5 of them serious or fatal. Next are I-805 & 4th St (13) and I-805 & 47th St (3).
- How many motorcyclists were killed in National City?
- 3 crashes killed someone in 206 reported motorcycle crashes in National City from 2021–2026, and 41 left someone seriously hurt or killed.
- How do motorcyclists usually crash in National City?
- 22% involved no other vehicle, usually running wide or losing grip. 9% involved a car turning left across the rider. 18% happened after dark.
- When and where do motorcycle crashes happen in National City, compared with California?
- Of 206 reported motorcycle crashes in National City from 2021–2026: 18% (California: 25%) of crashes happened after dark. 100% (California: 80%) were on roads posted 40 mph or faster. 20% (California: 28%) left someone seriously hurt or killed. The busiest hour was 7 a.m. (California: 5 p.m.). 2% (California: 2%) were on a wet road, as the report records it.
- Which streets in National City have the most motorcycle crashes?
- By the street each police report names first, 2021–2026: I-5 (78), I-805 (39), SR-54 (14), Highland Ave (11), 8th St (7). Long, busy streets collect more crashes partly because more people use them.
- How many motorcycle crashes happen in National City each year?
- Reported motorcycle crashes with map locations: 2021: 28, 2022: 35, 2023: 31, 2024: 44, 2025: 25, 2026 (through Oct 19): 43. 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. A report with no coordinates is placed at the intersection its street names give; reports with neither are not counted, so the real totals are higher.
Nearby cities
Source: California Crash Reporting System (CCRS), 2021–2026. A report with no coordinates is placed at the intersection its street names give; reports with neither are not counted, 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 2026-10-22. How the data works.