Motorcycle crash hotspots in Santa Barbara, CA
- motorcycle crashes, 2021–2025
- 125
- motorcycle crashes, 2021–2025
- serious or fatal
- 39
- serious or fatal
- fatal
- 4
- fatal
Is Santa Barbara 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: 125 motorcycle crashes were reported in Santa Barbara from 2021–2025, 39 of them serious or fatal (4 fatal). The most were at U.S. 101 To Milpas Street Southbound & Milpas Street (6). 38% involved no other vehicle, usually running wide or losing grip. 18% involved a car turning left across the rider.
How motorcyclists crash in Santa Barbara
- 38% involved no other vehicle, usually running wide or losing grip.
- 18% involved a car turning left across the rider.
- 24% happened after dark.
Where motorcycle crashes cluster
Spots with 3 or more reported crashes within about 250 m, worst first.
- 016 crashes · 3 serious or fatal
U.S. 101 To Milpas Street Southbound & Milpas Street
A mix of crash types
Traffic is posted at about 65 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.
- 024 crashes · 2 serious or fatal · 1 fatal
Us 101 Northbound & East Cabrillo Boulevard
Riders hit from behind
4 of 4 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.
- 035 crashes · 2 serious or fatal
Castillo St & Montecito St
Falls and fixed objects
3 of 5 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
W Canon Perdido St & Marilla Av
Falls and fixed objects
2 of 3 crashes were a fall or hitting an object, with no other vehicle involved.
- Enter slower than feels necessary and watch for gravel, sand and diesel. Look through the bend.
- 053 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
US-101 Northbound & Hitchcock Way
A mix of crash types
Traffic is posted at about 65 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.
- 063 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
State St & Calle Real
A mix of crash types
- No single crash pattern stands out here. Ride within your sight distance and keep extra space.
- 073 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
N Milpas St & E Mason St
Side-impact crashes at the junction
3 of 3 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.
- 083 crashes
Haley St & Santa Barbara St
Side-impact crashes at the junction
3 of 3 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 Southbound & Milpas Street
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.
Motorcycle crashes in Santa Barbara by year
| Year | Crashes | Serious/fatal | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 22 | 5 | |
| 2022 | 30 | 9 | |
| 2023 | 34 | 10 | |
| 2024 | 25 | 8 | |
| 2025 | 14 | 7 |
Common questions about Santa Barbara
- Where do the most motorcycle crashes happen in Santa Barbara?
- The worst spot is U.S. 101 To Milpas Street Southbound & Milpas Street, with 6 reported motorcycle crashes from 2021–2025, 3 of them serious or fatal. Next are Us 101 Northbound & East Cabrillo Boulevard (4) and Castillo St & Montecito St (5).
- How many motorcyclists were killed in Santa Barbara?
- 4 crashes killed someone in 125 reported motorcycle crashes in Santa Barbara from 2021–2025, and 39 left someone seriously hurt or killed.
- How do motorcyclists usually crash in Santa Barbara?
- 38% involved no other vehicle, usually running wide or losing grip. 18% involved a car turning left across the rider. 24% happened after dark.
- How many motorcycle crashes happen in Santa Barbara each year?
- Reported motorcycle crashes with map locations: 2021: 22, 2022: 30, 2023: 34, 2024: 25, 2025: 14. 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 Barbara
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.