Motorcycle crash statistics and hotspots in Sacramento, CA
- motorcycle crashes, 2021–2026
- 966
- motorcycle crashes, 2021–2026
- serious or fatal
- 246
- serious or fatal
- fatal
- 43
- fatal
- street with the most
- US-50
- street with the most
Where they cluster
All 10 spots, explainedIs Sacramento 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: 966 motorcycle crashes were reported in Sacramento from 2021–2026, 246 of them serious or fatal (43 fatal). The most were at US-50 & I-5 (20). 24% involved no other vehicle, usually running wide or losing grip. 16% involved a car turning left across the rider.
Where to look next
How motorcyclists crash in Sacramento
- 24% involved no other vehicle, usually running wide or losing grip.
- 16% involved a car turning left across the rider.
- 29% happened after dark.
What the reports show about motorcycle crashes in Sacramento
- 29% (California: 25%) of crashes happened after dark.
- 65% (California: 80%) were on roads posted 40 mph or faster.
- 25% (California: 28%) left someone seriously hurt or killed.
- The busiest hour was 5 p.m. (California: 5 p.m.).
- 1% (California: 2%) were on a wet road, as the report records it.
- The reports name something about the road itself in 108 crashes: a construction or repair zone (97), holes or deep ruts (6), loose material on the road (3) and something blocking the road (2).
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 · 7 serious or fatal · 1 fatal
US-50 & I-5
Close passes and cars turning alongside
Police reports: in 5 of 20, a driver drifted out of the lane or onto the wrong side. 9 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 55 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.
- 0214 crashes · 4 serious or fatal · 1 fatal
US-50 & Stockton Blvd
Falls and fixed objects
6 of 14 crashes were a fall or hitting an object, with no other vehicle involved. Traffic is posted at about 55 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.
- 0315 crashes · 3 serious or fatal
US-50 & 16th St
A mix of crash types
Traffic is posted at about 55 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.
- 0415 crashes · 1 serious or fatal · 1 fatal
US-50 & 22nd St
Close passes and cars turning alongside
Police reports: in 6 of 15, a driver drifted out of the lane or onto the wrong side. 8 of 15 crashes were sideswipes: a vehicle alongside, typically a close pass, a right hook, or an opening car door. Traffic is posted at about 55 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.
- 0512 crashes · 2 serious or fatal · 1 fatal
US-50 & 59th St
Riders hit from behind
5 of 12 crashes were rear-end: hit from behind. Traffic is posted at about 55 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.
- 068 crashes · 3 serious or fatal · 1 fatal
US-50 & Alhambra Blvd
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. 50% happened after dark. Traffic is posted at about 55 mph.
- 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.
- Traffic is fast here: at this speed you cross a junction in about a second, so scan early.
- 0712 crashes · 2 serious or fatal
I St & 5th St
A mix of crash types
Police reports: in 4 of 12, a driver turned or changed lanes when it wasn't clear.
- No single crash pattern stands out here. Ride within your sight distance and keep extra space.
- 089 crashes · 3 serious or fatal
Del Paso Blvd & Boxwood St
Side-impact crashes at the junction
5 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.
- 099 crashes · 2 serious or fatal
16th St & J St
Side-impact crashes at the junction
Police reports: in 3 of 9, a driver ran a red light. 5 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.
- 109 crashes · 2 serious or fatal
SR-51 & H St
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.
Streets with the most motorcycle crashes in Sacramento
| Street | Crashes | Serious/fatal |
|---|---|---|
| US-50 | 131 | 29 |
| SR-99 | 64 | 14 |
| I-5 | 58 | 23 |
| SR-51 | 47 | 9 |
| J St | 21 | 6 |
| Fruitridge Rd | 20 | 4 |
| Broadway | 18 | 2 |
| Arden Way | 17 | 4 |
| Rio Linda Blvd | 16 | 9 |
| Truxel Rd | 16 | 3 |
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 Sacramento
| A driver… | Crashes | |
|---|---|---|
| turned or changed lanes when it wasn't clear | 71 | |
| didn't yield while turning left | 63 | |
| drifted out of the lane or onto the wrong side | 59 | |
| drove too fast for conditions | 54 | |
| ran a stop sign or didn't yield after stopping | 35 | |
| didn't yield pulling out of a driveway or alley | 26 | |
| ran a red light | 24 | |
| drove under the influence | 13 |
The other vehicle, where the report names one: 443 cars, 127 SUVs, 50 pickup trucks, 23 truck or semis, 21 minivans and 3 buses. In 35 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 Sacramento by year
| Year | Crashes | Serious/fatal | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 208 | 57 | |
| 2022 | 194 | 51 | |
| 2023 | 157 | 35 | |
| 2024 | 149 | 41 | |
| 2025 | 154 | 38 | |
| 2026to Oct 19 | 104 | 24 |
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 Sacramento
- Where do the most motorcycle crashes happen in Sacramento?
- The worst spot is US-50 & I-5, with 20 reported motorcycle crashes from 2021–2026, 7 of them serious or fatal. Next are US-50 & Stockton Blvd (14) and US-50 & 16th St (15).
- How many motorcyclists were killed in Sacramento?
- 43 crashes killed someone in 966 reported motorcycle crashes in Sacramento from 2021–2026, and 246 left someone seriously hurt or killed.
- How do motorcyclists usually crash in Sacramento?
- 24% involved no other vehicle, usually running wide or losing grip. 16% involved a car turning left across the rider. 29% happened after dark.
- When and where do motorcycle crashes happen in Sacramento, compared with California?
- Of 966 reported motorcycle crashes in Sacramento from 2021–2026: 29% (California: 25%) of crashes happened after dark. 65% (California: 80%) were on roads posted 40 mph or faster. 25% (California: 28%) left someone seriously hurt or killed. The busiest hour was 5 p.m. (California: 5 p.m.). 1% (California: 2%) were on a wet road, as the report records it. The reports name something about the road itself in 108 crashes: a construction or repair zone (97), holes or deep ruts (6), loose material on the road (3) and something blocking the road (2).
- Which streets in Sacramento have the most motorcycle crashes?
- By the street each police report names first, 2021–2026: US-50 (131), SR-99 (64), I-5 (58), SR-51 (47), J St (21). Long, busy streets collect more crashes partly because more people use them.
- How many motorcycle crashes happen in Sacramento each year?
- Reported motorcycle crashes with map locations: 2021: 208, 2022: 194, 2023: 157, 2024: 149, 2025: 154, 2026 (through Oct 19): 104. 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.