Motorcycle crash statistics and hotspots in San Juan Capistrano, CA
- motorcycle crashes, 2021–2026
- 70
- motorcycle crashes, 2021–2026
- serious or fatal
- 15
- serious or fatal
- fatal
- 2
- fatal
- street with the most
- I-5
- street with the most
Where they cluster
All 10 spots, explainedIs San Juan Capistrano 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: 70 motorcycle crashes were reported in San Juan Capistrano from 2021–2026, 15 of them serious or fatal (2 fatal). The most were at I-5 & SR-73 (7). 41% involved no other vehicle, usually running wide or losing grip. 6% involved a car turning left across the rider.
Where to look next
How motorcyclists crash in San Juan Capistrano
- 41% involved no other vehicle, usually running wide or losing grip.
- 6% involved a car turning left across the rider.
- 29% happened after dark.
- 13% were hit-and-run.
What the reports show about motorcycle crashes in San Juan Capistrano
- 29% (California: 25%) of crashes happened after dark.
- 100% (California: 80%) were on roads posted 40 mph or faster.
- 21% (California: 28%) left someone seriously hurt or killed.
- The busiest hour was 12 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 2 crashes: 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.
- 017 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
I-5 & SR-73
Falls and fixed objects
3 of 7 crashes were a fall or hitting an object, with no other vehicle involved. 43% 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.
- 023 crashes · 3 serious or fatal
I-5 & 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.
- 033 crashes · 2 serious or fatal
I-5 & SR-73
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 & Via Escolar
Close passes and cars turning alongside
Police reports: in 2 of 3, a driver drove too fast for conditions. 2 of 3 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.
- 053 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
SR-74 & 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.
- 064 crashes
I-5 & Stonehill Dr
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. 50% were hit-and-run.
- 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.
- 074 crashes
Camino Capistrano & La Zanja St
Riders hit from behind
2 of 4 crashes were rear-end: hit from behind. 50% happened after dark. 50% were hit-and-run.
- 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.
- 084 crashes
I-5 & 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.
- 093 crashes
I-5 & 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.
- 103 crashes
I-5 & Stonehill Dr
Falls and fixed objects
Police reports: in 2 of 3, a driver drifted out of the lane or onto the wrong side. 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.
Streets with the most motorcycle crashes in San Juan Capistrano
| Street | Crashes | Serious/fatal |
|---|---|---|
| I-5 | 48 | 10 |
| Camino Capistrano | 7 | 1 |
| Ortega Hwy | 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.
What the police reports say drivers did in San Juan Capistrano
| A driver… | Crashes | |
|---|---|---|
| drove too fast for conditions | 5 | |
| drifted out of the lane or onto the wrong side | 5 | |
| didn't yield while turning left | 2 |
The other vehicle, where the report names one: 19 cars, 11 SUVs, 4 pickup trucks and 1 minivan.
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 Juan Capistrano by year
| Year | Crashes | Serious/fatal | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 7 | 1 | |
| 2022 | 18 | 5 | |
| 2023 | 10 | 4 | |
| 2024 | 10 | 0 | |
| 2025 | 14 | 3 | |
| 2026to Oct 19 | 11 | 2 |
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 Juan Capistrano
- Where do the most motorcycle crashes happen in San Juan Capistrano?
- The worst spot is I-5 & SR-73, with 7 reported motorcycle crashes from 2021–2026, 1 of them serious or fatal. Next are I-5 & Junipero Serra Rd (3) and I-5 & SR-73 (3).
- How many motorcyclists were killed in San Juan Capistrano?
- 2 crashes killed someone in 70 reported motorcycle crashes in San Juan Capistrano from 2021–2026, and 15 left someone seriously hurt or killed.
- How do motorcyclists usually crash in San Juan Capistrano?
- 41% involved no other vehicle, usually running wide or losing grip. 6% involved a car turning left across the rider. 29% happened after dark. 13% were hit-and-run.
- When and where do motorcycle crashes happen in San Juan Capistrano, compared with California?
- Of 70 reported motorcycle crashes in San Juan Capistrano from 2021–2026: 29% (California: 25%) of crashes happened after dark. 100% (California: 80%) were on roads posted 40 mph or faster. 21% (California: 28%) left someone seriously hurt or killed. The busiest hour was 12 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 2 crashes: something blocking the road (2).
- Which streets in San Juan Capistrano have the most motorcycle crashes?
- By the street each police report names first, 2021–2026: I-5 (48), Camino Capistrano (7), Ortega Hwy (3). Long, busy streets collect more crashes partly because more people use them.
- How many motorcycle crashes happen in San Juan Capistrano each year?
- Reported motorcycle crashes with map locations: 2021: 7, 2022: 18, 2023: 10, 2024: 10, 2025: 14, 2026 (through Oct 19): 11. 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.
Places to ride to near San Juan Capistrano
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.