Motorcycle crash hotspots in Santa Clara, CA
- motorcycle crashes, 2021–2025
- 113
- motorcycle crashes, 2021–2025
- serious or fatal
- 22
- serious or fatal
- fatal
- 6
- fatal
Is Santa Clara 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: 113 motorcycle crashes were reported in Santa Clara from 2021–2025, 22 of them serious or fatal (6 fatal). The most were at El Camino Real & Main St (3). 27% involved no other vehicle, usually running wide or losing grip. 19% involved a car turning left across the rider.
How motorcyclists crash in Santa Clara
- 27% involved no other vehicle, usually running wide or losing grip.
- 19% involved a car turning left across the rider.
- 27% happened after dark.
Where motorcycle crashes cluster
Spots with 3 or more reported crashes within about 250 m, worst first.
- 013 crashes · 2 serious or fatal · 1 fatal
El Camino Real & Main St
Side-impact crashes at the junction
2 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.
- 023 crashes · 1 serious or fatal · 1 fatal
Monroe St & French
A mix of crash types
- No single crash pattern stands out here. Ride within your sight distance and keep extra space.
- 033 crashes · 2 serious or fatal
Us101 & Great America Pky
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.
- 043 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
Central Expy & Lafayette St
Riders hit from behind
2 of 3 crashes were rear-end: hit from behind. Traffic is posted at about 50 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.
- 054 crashes
US-101 & Great America Pky
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.
- 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.
- 063 crashes
US-101 & San Tomas Expressway
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. 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.
- 073 crashes
SR-237 & Lafayette St
A mix of crash types
67% happened after dark. Traffic is posted at about 65 mph.
- No single crash pattern stands out here. Ride within your sight distance and keep extra space.
- 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.
- 083 crashes
Lafayette St & Benton St
A mix of crash types
- No single crash pattern stands out here. Ride within your sight distance and keep extra space.
- 093 crashes
US-101 & Lafayette St
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. 67% 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.
Motorcycle crashes in Santa Clara by year
| Year | Crashes | Serious/fatal | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 22 | 2 | |
| 2022 | 22 | 2 | |
| 2023 | 27 | 8 | |
| 2024 | 21 | 5 | |
| 2025 | 21 | 5 |
Common questions about Santa Clara
- Where do the most motorcycle crashes happen in Santa Clara?
- The worst spot is El Camino Real & Main St, with 3 reported motorcycle crashes from 2021–2025, 2 of them serious or fatal. Next are Monroe St & French (3) and Us101 & Great America Pky (3).
- How many motorcyclists were killed in Santa Clara?
- 6 crashes killed someone in 113 reported motorcycle crashes in Santa Clara from 2021–2025, and 22 left someone seriously hurt or killed.
- How do motorcyclists usually crash in Santa Clara?
- 27% involved no other vehicle, usually running wide or losing grip. 19% involved a car turning left across the rider. 27% happened after dark.
- How many motorcycle crashes happen in Santa Clara each year?
- Reported motorcycle crashes with map locations: 2021: 22, 2022: 22, 2023: 27, 2024: 21, 2025: 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. Only crashes reported with map coordinates are counted, so the real totals are higher.
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.