Motorcycle crash statistics and hotspots in San Francisco, CA
- motorcycle crashes, 2021–2026
- 1,674
- motorcycle crashes, 2021–2026
- serious or fatal
- 248
- serious or fatal
- fatal
- 37
- fatal
- street with the most
- I-80
- street with the most
Where they cluster
All 10 spots, explained- 1US-101 & Division Street Undercrossing25 crashes · 7 serious or fatalPolice reports: in 3 of 25, a driver drifted out of the lane or onto the wrong side.
- 2I-80 & Beale St25 crashes · 6 serious or fatalPolice reports: in 4 of 25, a driver drifted out of the lane or onto the wrong side.
- 3US-101 & 23rd Street Overcrossing21 crashes · 2 serious or fatalPolice reports: in 9 of 21, a driver drifted out of the lane or onto the wrong side.
Is San Francisco 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: 1,674 motorcycle crashes were reported in San Francisco from 2021–2026, 248 of them serious or fatal (37 fatal). The most were at US-101 & Division Street Undercrossing (25). 17% involved no other vehicle, usually running wide or losing grip. 18% involved a car turning left across the rider.
Where to look next
How motorcyclists crash in San Francisco
- 17% involved no other vehicle, usually running wide or losing grip.
- 18% involved a car turning left across the rider.
- 28% happened after dark.
What the reports show about motorcycle crashes in San Francisco
- 28% (California: 25%) of crashes happened after dark.
- 96% (California: 80%) were on roads posted 40 mph or faster.
- 15% (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.
- The reports name something about the road itself in 36 crashes: a construction or repair zone (16), loose material on the road (8), holes or deep ruts (7) and something blocking the road (5).
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.
- 0125 crashes · 7 serious or fatal · 4 fatal
US-101 & Division Street Undercrossing
Falls and fixed objects
Police reports: in 3 of 25, a driver drifted out of the lane or onto the wrong side. 13 of 25 crashes were a fall or hitting an object, with no other vehicle involved. 44% happened after dark. Traffic is posted at about 50 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.
- 0225 crashes · 6 serious or fatal · 1 fatal
I-80 & Beale St
Close passes and cars turning alongside
Police reports: in 4 of 25, a driver drifted out of the lane or onto the wrong side. 9 of 25 crashes were sideswipes: a vehicle alongside, typically a close pass, a right hook, or an opening car door. Traffic is posted at about 50 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.
- 0321 crashes · 2 serious or fatal
US-101 & 23rd Street Overcrossing
Riders hit from behind
Police reports: in 9 of 21, a driver drifted out of the lane or onto the wrong side. 12 of 21 crashes were rear-end: hit from behind. Traffic is posted at about 50 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.
- 0417 crashes · 2 serious or fatal · 1 fatal
I-80 & Main Street Undercrossing
Close passes and cars turning alongside
6 of 17 crashes were sideswipes: a vehicle alongside, typically a close pass, a right hook, or an opening car door. Traffic is posted at about 50 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.
- 0523 crashes
6th St & Harrison St
A mix of crash types
Police reports: in 3 of 23, a driver drifted out of the lane or onto the wrong side. 52% happened after dark. Traffic is posted at about 50 mph.
- No single crash pattern stands out here. Ride within your sight distance and keep extra space.
- 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.
- 0612 crashes · 4 serious or fatal · 1 fatal
US-101 & 15th St
Falls and fixed objects
5 of 12 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.
- 0720 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
US-101 & Bayshore Blvd
Falls and fixed objects
7 of 20 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.
- 0814 crashes · 4 serious or fatal
16th St & Albion St
Close passes and cars turning alongside
Police reports: in 6 of 14, a driver didn't yield while turning left. 5 of 14 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.
- 0915 crashes · 2 serious or fatal · 1 fatal
US-101 & Faith St Pedestrian O
Riders hit from behind
Police reports: in 3 of 15, a driver turned or changed lanes when it wasn't clear. 6 of 15 crashes were rear-end: hit from behind. Traffic is posted at about 50 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.
- 1011 crashes · 4 serious or fatal · 1 fatal
Cesar Chavez St & Folsom St
Close passes and cars turning alongside
4 of 11 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.
Streets with the most motorcycle crashes in San Francisco
| Street | Crashes | Serious/fatal |
|---|---|---|
| I-80 | 201 | 24 |
| US-101 | 172 | 24 |
| Mission St | 95 | 9 |
| I-280 | 58 | 10 |
| Market St | 38 | 9 |
| Van Ness Ave | 34 | 10 |
| 3rd St | 33 | 5 |
| Geary Blvd | 32 | 8 |
| Lincoln Way | 21 | 4 |
| Fulton St | 20 | 5 |
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 San Francisco
| A driver… | Crashes | |
|---|---|---|
| turned or changed lanes when it wasn't clear | 155 | |
| didn't yield while turning left | 133 | |
| drifted out of the lane or onto the wrong side | 127 | |
| drove too fast for conditions | 69 | |
| turned from the wrong position | 47 | |
| started or backed up when it wasn't clear | 34 | |
| followed too closely | 34 | |
| ran a red light | 33 |
The other vehicle, where the report names one: 941 cars, 156 SUVs, 48 pickup trucks, 32 minivans, 19 truck or semis and 10 buses. In 46 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 San Francisco by year
| Year | Crashes | Serious/fatal | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 288 | 57 | |
| 2022 | 277 | 46 | |
| 2023 | 273 | 36 | |
| 2024 | 320 | 45 | |
| 2025 | 278 | 37 | |
| 2026to Oct 19 | 238 | 27 |
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 San Francisco
- Where do the most motorcycle crashes happen in San Francisco?
- The worst spot is US-101 & Division Street Undercrossing, with 25 reported motorcycle crashes from 2021–2026, 7 of them serious or fatal. Next are I-80 & Beale St (25) and US-101 & 23rd Street Overcrossing (21).
- How many motorcyclists were killed in San Francisco?
- 37 crashes killed someone in 1,674 reported motorcycle crashes in San Francisco from 2021–2026, and 248 left someone seriously hurt or killed.
- How do motorcyclists usually crash in San Francisco?
- 17% involved no other vehicle, usually running wide or losing grip. 18% involved a car turning left across the rider. 28% happened after dark.
- When and where do motorcycle crashes happen in San Francisco, compared with California?
- Of 1,674 reported motorcycle crashes in San Francisco from 2021–2026: 28% (California: 25%) of crashes happened after dark. 96% (California: 80%) were on roads posted 40 mph or faster. 15% (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. The reports name something about the road itself in 36 crashes: a construction or repair zone (16), loose material on the road (8), holes or deep ruts (7) and something blocking the road (5).
- Which streets in San Francisco have the most motorcycle crashes?
- By the street each police report names first, 2021–2026: I-80 (201), US-101 (172), Mission St (95), I-280 (58), Market St (38). Long, busy streets collect more crashes partly because more people use them.
- How many motorcycle crashes happen in San Francisco each year?
- Reported motorcycle crashes with map locations: 2021: 288, 2022: 277, 2023: 273, 2024: 320, 2025: 278, 2026 (through Oct 19): 238. 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.