Motorcycle crash statistics and hotspots in Ridgecrest, CA
- motorcycle crashes, 2021–2026
- 43
- motorcycle crashes, 2021–2026
- serious or fatal
- 13
- serious or fatal
- fatal
- 1
- fatal
- street with the most
- China Lake Blvd
- street with the most
Where they cluster
All 4 spots, explainedIs Ridgecrest 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: 43 motorcycle crashes were reported in Ridgecrest from 2021–2026, 13 of them serious or fatal (1 fatal). The most were at Norma St & Moyer Ave (5). 35% involved no other vehicle, usually running wide or losing grip. 14% involved a car turning left across the rider.
Where to look next
How motorcyclists crash in Ridgecrest
- 35% involved no other vehicle, usually running wide or losing grip.
- 14% involved a car turning left across the rider.
- 28% happened after dark.
What the reports show about motorcycle crashes in Ridgecrest
- 28% (California: 25%) of crashes happened after dark.
- 30% (California: 28%) left someone seriously hurt or killed.
- The busiest hour was 5 p.m. (California: 5 p.m.).
- 5% (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.
- 015 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
Norma St & Moyer Ave
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.
- 023 crashes
Forest Knoll St & Burns Ave
Close passes and cars turning alongside
2 of 3 crashes were sideswipes: a vehicle alongside, typically a close pass, a right hook, or an opening car door. 67% 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.
- 033 crashes
North Balsam St & West Station Ave
Close passes and cars turning alongside
2 of 3 crashes were sideswipes: a vehicle alongside, typically a close pass, a right hook, or an opening car door.
- Don't linger in drivers' blind spots, and watch for cars changing lanes or turning into driveways alongside you.
- 043 crashes
Las Flores Ave & Balsam St
A mix of crash types
- No single crash pattern stands out here. Ride within your sight distance and keep extra space.
Streets with the most motorcycle crashes in Ridgecrest
| Street | Crashes | Serious/fatal |
|---|---|---|
| China Lake Blvd | 5 | 1 |
| Norma St | 5 | 0 |
| Bowman Rd | 4 | 2 |
| Las Flores Ave | 3 | 0 |
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.
Motorcycle crashes in Ridgecrest by year
| Year | Crashes | Serious/fatal | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 7 | 1 | |
| 2022 | 9 | 3 | |
| 2023 | 8 | 4 | |
| 2024 | 11 | 5 | |
| 2025 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2026to Oct 19 | 1 | 0 |
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 Ridgecrest
- Where do the most motorcycle crashes happen in Ridgecrest?
- The worst spot is Norma St & Moyer Ave, with 5 reported motorcycle crashes from 2021–2026, 1 of them serious or fatal. Next are Forest Knoll St & Burns Ave (3) and North Balsam St & West Station Ave (3).
- How many motorcyclists were killed in Ridgecrest?
- 1 crash killed someone in 43 reported motorcycle crashes in Ridgecrest from 2021–2026, and 13 left someone seriously hurt or killed.
- How do motorcyclists usually crash in Ridgecrest?
- 35% involved no other vehicle, usually running wide or losing grip. 14% involved a car turning left across the rider. 28% happened after dark.
- When and where do motorcycle crashes happen in Ridgecrest, compared with California?
- Of 43 reported motorcycle crashes in Ridgecrest from 2021–2026: 28% (California: 25%) of crashes happened after dark. 30% (California: 28%) left someone seriously hurt or killed. The busiest hour was 5 p.m. (California: 5 p.m.). 5% (California: 2%) were on a wet road, as the report records it.
- Which streets in Ridgecrest have the most motorcycle crashes?
- By the street each police report names first, 2021–2026: China Lake Blvd (5), Norma St (5), Bowman Rd (4), Las Flores Ave (3). Long, busy streets collect more crashes partly because more people use them.
- How many motorcycle crashes happen in Ridgecrest each year?
- Reported motorcycle crashes with map locations: 2021: 7, 2022: 9, 2023: 8, 2024: 11, 2025: 7, 2026 (through Oct 19): 1. 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.