Motorcycle crash hotspots in Palmdale, CA
- motorcycle crashes, 2021–2025
- 189
- motorcycle crashes, 2021–2025
- serious or fatal
- 59
- serious or fatal
- fatal
- 14
- fatal
Is Palmdale 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: 189 motorcycle crashes were reported in Palmdale from 2021–2025, 59 of them serious or fatal (14 fatal). The most were at SR-14 Aerospace Highway & 10th Street West (3). 24% involved no other vehicle, usually running wide or losing grip. 24% involved a car turning left across the rider.
How motorcyclists crash in Palmdale
- 24% involved no other vehicle, usually running wide or losing grip.
- 24% involved a car turning left across the rider.
- 32% happened after dark.
- 11% were hit-and-run.
Where motorcycle crashes cluster
Spots with 3 or more reported crashes within about 250 m, worst first.
- 013 crashes · 2 serious or fatal · 2 fatal
SR-14 Aerospace Highway & 10th Street West
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.
- 024 crashes · 3 serious or fatal · 1 fatal
Rt 138 & 16th St E
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. 50% 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.
- 033 crashes · 3 serious or fatal · 1 fatal
47th St East & Minstrel Dr
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.
- 043 crashes · 2 serious or fatal · 1 fatal
25th St East & Old Harold Rd
Side-impact crashes at the junction
3 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.
- 054 crashes · 2 serious or fatal
Sierra Hwy & Avenue M
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. 50% 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.
- 063 crashes · 2 serious or fatal
Avenue M & 30th St East
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.
- 075 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
Avenue S & Bela St
Side-impact crashes at the junction
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.
- 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
Palmdale Bl & 47th St East
Falls and fixed objects
4 of 4 crashes were a fall or hitting an object, with no other vehicle involved.
- Enter slower than feels necessary and watch for gravel, sand and diesel. Look through the bend.
- 095 crashes
10th St W & Rancho Vista Bl
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% were hit-and-run.
- Don't linger in drivers' blind spots, and watch for cars changing lanes or turning into driveways alongside you.
- 104 crashes
Palmdale Bl & Rt 14
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 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.
Motorcycle crashes in Palmdale by year
| Year | Crashes | Serious/fatal | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 48 | 18 | |
| 2022 | 29 | 9 | |
| 2023 | 37 | 9 | |
| 2024 | 36 | 12 | |
| 2025 | 39 | 11 |
Common questions about Palmdale
- Where do the most motorcycle crashes happen in Palmdale?
- The worst spot is SR-14 Aerospace Highway & 10th Street West, with 3 reported motorcycle crashes from 2021–2025, 2 of them serious or fatal. Next are Rt 138 & 16th St E (4) and 47th St East & Minstrel Dr (3).
- How many motorcyclists were killed in Palmdale?
- 14 crashes killed someone in 189 reported motorcycle crashes in Palmdale from 2021–2025, and 59 left someone seriously hurt or killed.
- How do motorcyclists usually crash in Palmdale?
- 24% involved no other vehicle, usually running wide or losing grip. 24% involved a car turning left across the rider. 32% happened after dark. 11% were hit-and-run.
- How many motorcycle crashes happen in Palmdale each year?
- Reported motorcycle crashes with map locations: 2021: 48, 2022: 29, 2023: 37, 2024: 36, 2025: 39. 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.