Motorcycle crash hotspots in Newport Beach, CA
- motorcycle crashes, 2021–2025
- 144
- motorcycle crashes, 2021–2025
- serious or fatal
- 42
- serious or fatal
- fatal
- 6
- fatal
Is Newport Beach 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: 144 motorcycle crashes were reported in Newport Beach from 2021–2025, 42 of them serious or fatal (6 fatal). The most were at SR-1 (W Coast Hwy) & 61st St (10). 46% involved no other vehicle, usually running wide or losing grip. 11% involved a car turning left across the rider.
How motorcyclists crash in Newport Beach
- 46% involved no other vehicle, usually running wide or losing grip.
- 11% involved a car turning left across the rider.
- 29% happened after dark.
Where motorcycle crashes cluster
Spots with 3 or more reported crashes within about 250 m, worst first.
- 0110 crashes · 6 serious or fatal · 2 fatal
SR-1 (W Coast Hwy) & 61st St
Falls and fixed objects
7 of 10 crashes were a fall or hitting an object, with no other vehicle involved. Traffic is posted at about 50 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.
- 0212 crashes · 2 serious or fatal
SR-1 (W. Coast Hwy) & SR-55 (Newport Blvd)
Falls and fixed objects
9 of 12 crashes were a fall or hitting an object, with no other vehicle involved. 50% happened after dark. Traffic is posted at about 45 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.
- 035 crashes · 4 serious or fatal
SR-1 (W. Coast Hwy) & Superior Ave
Falls and fixed objects
4 of 5 crashes were a fall or hitting an object, with no other vehicle involved. Traffic is posted at about 50 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.
- 044 crashes · 2 serious or fatal · 1 fatal
Superior Ave & Nice Ln
Close passes and cars turning alongside
2 of 4 crashes were sideswipes: a vehicle alongside, typically a close pass, a right hook, or an opening car door. Traffic is posted at about 40 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.
- 053 crashes · 1 serious or fatal · 1 fatal
32nd St & Marcus 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.
- 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.
- 063 crashes · 2 serious or fatal
Coast Hwy W (SR-1) & Tustin Ave
A mix of crash types
Traffic is posted at about 40 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.
- 075 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
Marguerite Ave & Bayside Dr
Side-impact crashes at the junction
3 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.
- 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.
- 084 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
W Balboa Blvd & 29th St
Side-impact crashes at the junction
2 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.
- 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.
- 094 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
SR-1 (E Coast Hwy) & Jamboree Rd
Falls and fixed objects
3 of 4 crashes were a fall or hitting an object, with no other vehicle involved. Traffic is posted at about 50 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.
- 103 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
Macarthur Blvd & SR-1
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. Traffic is posted at about 50 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.
- 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.
Motorcycle crashes in Newport Beach by year
| Year | Crashes | Serious/fatal | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 35 | 9 | |
| 2022 | 29 | 6 | |
| 2023 | 22 | 6 | |
| 2024 | 30 | 10 | |
| 2025 | 28 | 11 |
Common questions about Newport Beach
- Where do the most motorcycle crashes happen in Newport Beach?
- The worst spot is SR-1 (W Coast Hwy) & 61st St, with 10 reported motorcycle crashes from 2021–2025, 6 of them serious or fatal. Next are SR-1 (W. Coast Hwy) & SR-55 (Newport Blvd) (12) and SR-1 (W. Coast Hwy) & Superior Ave (5).
- How many motorcyclists were killed in Newport Beach?
- 6 crashes killed someone in 144 reported motorcycle crashes in Newport Beach from 2021–2025, and 42 left someone seriously hurt or killed.
- How do motorcyclists usually crash in Newport Beach?
- 46% involved no other vehicle, usually running wide or losing grip. 11% involved a car turning left across the rider. 29% happened after dark.
- How many motorcycle crashes happen in Newport Beach each year?
- Reported motorcycle crashes with map locations: 2021: 35, 2022: 29, 2023: 22, 2024: 30, 2025: 28. 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.