Motorcycle crash hotspots in San Juan Capistrano, CA
- motorcycle crashes, 2021–2025
- 44
- motorcycle crashes, 2021–2025
- serious or fatal
- 10
- serious or fatal
- fatal
- 2
- fatal
Is San Juan Capistrano 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: 44 motorcycle crashes were reported in San Juan Capistrano from 2021–2025, 10 of them serious or fatal (2 fatal). The most were at I-5 (San Diego Frwy) & Junipero Serra Rd (3). 50% involved no other vehicle, usually running wide or losing grip. 30% happened after dark.
How motorcyclists crash in San Juan Capistrano
- 50% involved no other vehicle, usually running wide or losing grip.
- 30% happened after dark.
Where motorcycle crashes cluster
Spots with 3 or more reported crashes within about 250 m, worst first.
- 013 crashes · 3 serious or fatal
I-5 (San Diego Frwy) & Junipero Serra Rd
Riders hit from behind
2 of 3 crashes were rear-end: hit from behind. 67% happened after dark. Traffic is posted at about 65 mph.
- Check your mirrors when slowing, flash your brake light, and leave an escape gap when you stop in traffic.
- 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.
- 026 crashes
I-5 (San Diego Frwy) & SR-73
Falls and fixed objects
3 of 6 crashes were a fall or hitting an object, with no other vehicle involved. 50% happened after dark. Traffic is posted at about 65 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.
- 033 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
SR-74 (Ortega Highway) Eastbound & San Juan Creek Bridge
Falls and fixed objects
3 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.
- 043 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
I-5 Southbound & SR-73
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.
- 054 crashes
I-5 (San Diego Frwy) & San Juan Creek 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 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.
- 063 crashes
I-5 (San Diego Frwy) From Stonehill Drive & Stonehill Drive
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. 67% were hit-and-run.
- 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.
- 073 crashes
I-5 (San Diego Frwy) & Camino Las Ramblas
Riders hit from behind
3 of 3 crashes were rear-end: hit from behind. Traffic is posted at about 65 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.
- 083 crashes
I-5 & Stonehill Drive
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.
Motorcycle crashes in San Juan Capistrano by year
| Year | Crashes | Serious/fatal | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6 | 1 | |
| 2022 | 14 | 3 | |
| 2023 | 9 | 4 | |
| 2024 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2025 | 9 | 2 |
Common questions about San Juan Capistrano
- Where do the most motorcycle crashes happen in San Juan Capistrano?
- The worst spot is I-5 (San Diego Frwy) & Junipero Serra Rd, with 3 reported motorcycle crashes from 2021–2025, 3 of them serious or fatal. Next are I-5 (San Diego Frwy) & SR-73 (6) and SR-74 (Ortega Highway) Eastbound & San Juan Creek Bridge (3).
- How many motorcyclists were killed in San Juan Capistrano?
- 2 crashes killed someone in 44 reported motorcycle crashes in San Juan Capistrano from 2021–2025, and 10 left someone seriously hurt or killed.
- How do motorcyclists usually crash in San Juan Capistrano?
- 50% involved no other vehicle, usually running wide or losing grip. 30% happened after dark.
- How many motorcycle crashes happen in San Juan Capistrano each year?
- Reported motorcycle crashes with map locations: 2021: 6, 2022: 14, 2023: 9, 2024: 6, 2025: 9. 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.
Places to ride to near San Juan Capistrano
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.