Motorcycle crash hotspots in San Luis Obispo, CA
- motorcycle crashes, 2021–2025
- 71
- motorcycle crashes, 2021–2025
- serious or fatal
- 14
- serious or fatal
- fatal
- 0
- fatal
Is San Luis Obispo 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: 71 motorcycle crashes were reported in San Luis Obispo from 2021–2025, 14 of them serious or fatal. The most were at US-101 Southbound To Madonna Road & Madonna Rd O/C (4). 27% involved no other vehicle, usually running wide or losing grip. 37% involved a car turning left across the rider.
How motorcyclists crash in San Luis Obispo
- 27% involved no other vehicle, usually running wide or losing grip.
- 37% involved a car turning left across the rider.
- 14% happened after dark.
Where motorcycle crashes cluster
Spots with 3 or more reported crashes within about 250 m, worst first.
- 014 crashes · 2 serious or fatal
US-101 Southbound To Madonna Road & Madonna Rd O/C
Falls and fixed objects
3 of 4 crashes were a fall or hitting an object, with no other vehicle involved. 75% 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.
- 024 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
Foothill Blvd & Chorro St
A mix of crash types
- No single crash pattern stands out here. Ride within your sight distance and keep extra space.
- 033 crashes
Pacific & Broad
A mix of crash types
- No single crash pattern stands out here. Ride within your sight distance and keep extra space.
Motorcycle crashes in San Luis Obispo by year
| Year | Crashes | Serious/fatal | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 11 | 2 | |
| 2022 | 17 | 3 | |
| 2023 | 11 | 1 | |
| 2024 | 19 | 4 | |
| 2025 | 13 | 4 |
Common questions about San Luis Obispo
- Where do the most motorcycle crashes happen in San Luis Obispo?
- The worst spot is US-101 Southbound To Madonna Road & Madonna Rd O/C, with 4 reported motorcycle crashes from 2021–2025, 2 of them serious or fatal. Next are Foothill Blvd & Chorro St (4) and Pacific & Broad (3).
- How many motorcyclists were killed in San Luis Obispo?
- No deaths were reported in 71 reported motorcycle crashes in San Luis Obispo from 2021–2025, and 14 left someone seriously hurt or killed.
- How do motorcyclists usually crash in San Luis Obispo?
- 27% involved no other vehicle, usually running wide or losing grip. 37% involved a car turning left across the rider. 14% happened after dark.
- How many motorcycle crashes happen in San Luis Obispo each year?
- Reported motorcycle crashes with map locations: 2021: 11, 2022: 17, 2023: 11, 2024: 19, 2025: 13. 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 Luis Obispo
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.