Motorcycle crash statistics and hotspots in San Mateo, CA
- motorcycle crashes, 2021–2026
- 126
- motorcycle crashes, 2021–2026
- serious or fatal
- 24
- serious or fatal
- fatal
- 1
- fatal
- street with the most
- US-101
- street with the most
Where they cluster
All 10 spots, explainedIs San Mateo 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: 126 motorcycle crashes were reported in San Mateo from 2021–2026, 24 of them serious or fatal (1 fatal). The most were at US-101 & Poplar Ave (8). 22% involved no other vehicle, usually running wide or losing grip. 11% involved a car turning left across the rider.
Where to look next
How motorcyclists crash in San Mateo
- 22% involved no other vehicle, usually running wide or losing grip.
- 11% involved a car turning left across the rider.
- 17% happened after dark.
What the reports show about motorcycle crashes in San Mateo
- 17% (California: 25%) of crashes happened after dark.
- 62% (California: 80%) were on roads posted 40 mph or faster.
- 19% (California: 28%) left someone seriously hurt or killed.
- The busiest hour was 4 p.m. (California: 5 p.m.).
- 2% (California: 2%) were on a wet road, as the report records it.
- The reports name something about the road itself in 13 crashes: a construction or repair zone (11) and holes or deep ruts (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.
- 018 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
US-101 & Poplar Ave
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. 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.
- 027 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
US-101 & Peninsula Ave
Riders hit from behind
3 of 7 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.
- 034 crashes · 1 serious or fatal · 1 fatal
US-101 & SR-92
Riders hit from behind
3 of 4 crashes were rear-end: hit from behind. 50% happened after dark. 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.
- 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.
- 047 crashes
US-101 & SR-92
Falls and fixed objects
4 of 7 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.
- 053 crashes · 2 serious or fatal
El Camino Real & 23rd Ave
Close passes and cars turning alongside
2 of 3 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.
- 063 crashes · 2 serious or fatal
US-101 & Peninsula Ave
Close passes and cars turning alongside
2 of 3 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.
- 075 crashes
US-101 & 3rd Ave
Close passes and cars turning alongside
3 of 5 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.
- 084 crashes
San Mateo Dr & Baldwin Ave
Side-impact crashes at the junction
Police reports: in 3 of 4, a driver didn't yield while turning left. 4 of 4 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.
- 093 crashes
US-101 & Hillsdale Blvd
Close passes and cars turning alongside
Police reports: in 2 of 3, a driver drifted out of the lane or onto the wrong side. 3 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.
- 103 crashes
US-101 & SR-92
Riders hit from behind
2 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.
Streets with the most motorcycle crashes in San Mateo
| Street | Crashes | Serious/fatal |
|---|---|---|
| US-101 | 53 | 4 |
| SR-92 | 22 | 6 |
| El Camino Real | 14 | 4 |
| Delaware St | 6 | 2 |
| Hillsdale Blvd | 3 | 0 |
| Norfolk St | 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 Mateo
| A driver… | Crashes | |
|---|---|---|
| drifted out of the lane or onto the wrong side | 13 | |
| turned or changed lanes when it wasn't clear | 10 | |
| didn't yield while turning left | 6 | |
| drove too fast for conditions | 3 | |
| followed too closely | 3 | |
| ran a stop sign or didn't yield after stopping | 3 | |
| didn't yield pulling out of a driveway or alley | 2 |
The other vehicle, where the report names one: 56 cars, 18 SUVs, 9 pickup trucks, 3 minivans and 1 truck or semi. In 3 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 Mateo by year
| Year | Crashes | Serious/fatal | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 15 | 2 | |
| 2022 | 24 | 3 | |
| 2023 | 26 | 5 | |
| 2024 | 18 | 4 | |
| 2025 | 22 | 5 | |
| 2026to Oct 19 | 21 | 5 |
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 Mateo
- Where do the most motorcycle crashes happen in San Mateo?
- The worst spot is US-101 & Poplar Ave, with 8 reported motorcycle crashes from 2021–2026, 1 of them serious or fatal. Next are US-101 & Peninsula Ave (7) and US-101 & SR-92 (4).
- How many motorcyclists were killed in San Mateo?
- 1 crash killed someone in 126 reported motorcycle crashes in San Mateo from 2021–2026, and 24 left someone seriously hurt or killed.
- How do motorcyclists usually crash in San Mateo?
- 22% involved no other vehicle, usually running wide or losing grip. 11% involved a car turning left across the rider. 17% happened after dark.
- When and where do motorcycle crashes happen in San Mateo, compared with California?
- Of 126 reported motorcycle crashes in San Mateo from 2021–2026: 17% (California: 25%) of crashes happened after dark. 62% (California: 80%) were on roads posted 40 mph or faster. 19% (California: 28%) left someone seriously hurt or killed. The busiest hour was 4 p.m. (California: 5 p.m.). 2% (California: 2%) were on a wet road, as the report records it. The reports name something about the road itself in 13 crashes: a construction or repair zone (11) and holes or deep ruts (2).
- Which streets in San Mateo have the most motorcycle crashes?
- By the street each police report names first, 2021–2026: US-101 (53), SR-92 (22), El Camino Real (14), Delaware St (6), Hillsdale Blvd (3). Long, busy streets collect more crashes partly because more people use them.
- How many motorcycle crashes happen in San Mateo each year?
- Reported motorcycle crashes with map locations: 2021: 15, 2022: 24, 2023: 26, 2024: 18, 2025: 22, 2026 (through Oct 19): 21. 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 Mateo
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.