Motorcycle crash hotspots in Santa Ana, CA
- motorcycle crashes, 2021–2025
- 475
- motorcycle crashes, 2021–2025
- serious or fatal
- 93
- serious or fatal
- fatal
- 17
- fatal
Is Santa Ana 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: 475 motorcycle crashes were reported in Santa Ana from 2021–2025, 93 of them serious or fatal (17 fatal). The most were at I-5 Northbound & SR-22 Eastbound (15). 17% involved no other vehicle, usually running wide or losing grip. 17% involved a car turning left across the rider.
How motorcyclists crash in Santa Ana
- 17% involved no other vehicle, usually running wide or losing grip.
- 17% involved a car turning left across the rider.
- 28% happened after dark.
- 11% were hit-and-run.
Where motorcycle crashes cluster
Spots with 3 or more reported crashes within about 250 m, worst first.
- 0115 crashes · 6 serious or fatal · 1 fatal
I-5 Northbound & SR-22 Eastbound
Close passes and cars turning alongside
6 of 15 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.
- 0210 crashes · 6 serious or fatal · 2 fatal
SR-22 Eb To I-5 Nb / SR-57 Nb & W La Veta Avenue
Falls and fixed objects
9 of 10 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.
- 0318 crashes · 3 serious or fatal
I-5 Southbound & 4th St
Riders hit from behind
10 of 18 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.
- 046 crashes · 4 serious or fatal · 1 fatal
Interstate 5 (Santa Ana Fwy) & 4th St
Falls and fixed objects
4 of 6 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.
- 057 crashes · 3 serious or fatal · 1 fatal
Dyer Road & Pullman Street
Riders hit from behind
3 of 7 crashes were rear-end: hit from behind. Traffic is posted at about 55 mph. 57% were hit-and-run.
- 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.
- 0610 crashes · 2 serious or fatal
I-5 Northbound & SR-55 Southbound
Close passes and cars turning alongside
4 of 10 crashes were sideswipes: a vehicle alongside, typically a close pass, a right hook, or an opening car door. 60% happened after dark. 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.
- 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.
- 0710 crashes · 2 serious or fatal
I-5 Southbound & 17th St
Falls and fixed objects
4 of 10 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.
- 085 crashes · 3 serious or fatal
Bristol Street & Memory Lane
Side-impact crashes at the junction
3 of 5 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. 40% happened after dark. Traffic is posted at about 40 mph.
- 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.
- 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.
- 093 crashes · 2 serious or fatal · 1 fatal
Segerstrom Avenue & Harbor Boulevard
A mix of crash types
Traffic is posted at about 40 mph.
- No single crash pattern stands out here. Ride within your sight distance and keep extra space.
- Traffic is fast here: at this speed you cross a junction in about a second, so scan early.
- 106 crashes · 2 serious or fatal
SR-55 & Macarthur Blvd
Riders hit from behind
4 of 6 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.
Motorcycle crashes in Santa Ana by year
| Year | Crashes | Serious/fatal | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 64 | 19 | |
| 2022 | 85 | 13 | |
| 2023 | 107 | 20 | |
| 2024 | 113 | 24 | |
| 2025 | 106 | 17 |
Common questions about Santa Ana
- Where do the most motorcycle crashes happen in Santa Ana?
- The worst spot is I-5 Northbound & SR-22 Eastbound, with 15 reported motorcycle crashes from 2021–2025, 6 of them serious or fatal. Next are SR-22 Eb To I-5 Nb / SR-57 Nb & W La Veta Avenue (10) and I-5 Southbound & 4th St (18).
- How many motorcyclists were killed in Santa Ana?
- 17 crashes killed someone in 475 reported motorcycle crashes in Santa Ana from 2021–2025, and 93 left someone seriously hurt or killed.
- How do motorcyclists usually crash in Santa Ana?
- 17% involved no other vehicle, usually running wide or losing grip. 17% involved a car turning left across the rider. 28% happened after dark. 11% were hit-and-run.
- How many motorcycle crashes happen in Santa Ana each year?
- Reported motorcycle crashes with map locations: 2021: 64, 2022: 85, 2023: 107, 2024: 113, 2025: 106. 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 Santa Ana
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.