Motorcycle crash statistics and hotspots in Santa Clara, CA
- motorcycle crashes, 2021–2026
- 133
- motorcycle crashes, 2021–2026
- serious or fatal
- 26
- serious or fatal
- fatal
- 6
- fatal
- street with the most
- US-101
- street with the most
Where they cluster
All 10 spots, explainedIs Santa Clara 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: 133 motorcycle crashes were reported in Santa Clara from 2021–2026, 26 of them serious or fatal (6 fatal). The most were at US-101 & Great America Pkwy (7). 30% involved no other vehicle, usually running wide or losing grip. 17% involved a car turning left across the rider.
Where to look next
How motorcyclists crash in Santa Clara
- 30% involved no other vehicle, usually running wide or losing grip.
- 17% involved a car turning left across the rider.
- 26% happened after dark.
What the reports show about motorcycle crashes in Santa Clara
- 26% (California: 25%) of crashes happened after dark.
- 55% (California: 80%) were on roads posted 40 mph or faster.
- 20% (California: 28%) left someone seriously hurt or killed.
- The busiest hour was 2 p.m. (California: 5 p.m.).
- 4% (California: 2%) were on a wet road, as the report records it.
- The reports name something about the road itself in 3 crashes: loose material on the road (3).
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.
- 017 crashes · 2 serious or fatal
US-101 & Great America Pkwy
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.
- 023 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.
- 035 crashes · 2 serious or fatal
US-101 & Bowers Ave
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 · 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.
- 054 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
US-101 & Lafayette St
Close passes and cars turning alongside
Police reports: in 2 of 4, a driver drifted out of the lane or onto the wrong side. 3 of 4 crashes were sideswipes: a vehicle alongside, typically a close pass, a right hook, or an opening car door. 50% 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.
- 063 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
Lawrence Expy & Buckley St
Falls and fixed objects
2 of 3 crashes were a fall or hitting an object, with no other vehicle involved. Traffic is posted at about 50 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.
- 073 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.
- 083 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.
- 093 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.
- 103 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.
Streets with the most motorcycle crashes in Santa Clara
| Street | Crashes | Serious/fatal |
|---|---|---|
| US-101 | 23 | 6 |
| Monroe St | 12 | 2 |
| SR-237 | 9 | 1 |
| El Camino Real | 8 | 2 |
| Lawrence Expy | 8 | 2 |
| San Tomas Expy | 8 | 1 |
| Stevens Creek Blvd | 6 | 2 |
| Lafayette St | 6 | 2 |
| Central Expy | 6 | 1 |
| Homestead Rd | 5 | 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 Santa Clara
| A driver… | Crashes | |
|---|---|---|
| didn't yield while turning left | 13 | |
| drifted out of the lane or onto the wrong side | 11 | |
| turned or changed lanes when it wasn't clear | 10 | |
| didn't yield pulling out of a driveway or alley | 7 | |
| ran a stop sign or didn't yield after stopping | 5 | |
| started or backed up when it wasn't clear | 4 | |
| drove too fast for conditions | 3 | |
| ran a red light | 2 |
The other vehicle, where the report names one: 66 cars, 16 SUVs, 3 pickup trucks, 3 minivans, 2 truck or semis and 1 bus.
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 Santa Clara by year
| Year | Crashes | Serious/fatal | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 23 | 2 | |
| 2022 | 22 | 2 | |
| 2023 | 29 | 9 | |
| 2024 | 25 | 5 | |
| 2025 | 25 | 5 | |
| 2026to Oct 19 | 9 | 3 |
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 Santa Clara
- Where do the most motorcycle crashes happen in Santa Clara?
- The worst spot is US-101 & Great America Pkwy, with 7 reported motorcycle crashes from 2021–2026, 2 of them serious or fatal. Next are El Camino Real & Main St (3) and US-101 & Bowers Ave (5).
- How many motorcyclists were killed in Santa Clara?
- 6 crashes killed someone in 133 reported motorcycle crashes in Santa Clara from 2021–2026, and 26 left someone seriously hurt or killed.
- How do motorcyclists usually crash in Santa Clara?
- 30% involved no other vehicle, usually running wide or losing grip. 17% involved a car turning left across the rider. 26% happened after dark.
- When and where do motorcycle crashes happen in Santa Clara, compared with California?
- Of 133 reported motorcycle crashes in Santa Clara from 2021–2026: 26% (California: 25%) of crashes happened after dark. 55% (California: 80%) were on roads posted 40 mph or faster. 20% (California: 28%) left someone seriously hurt or killed. The busiest hour was 2 p.m. (California: 5 p.m.). 4% (California: 2%) were on a wet road, as the report records it. The reports name something about the road itself in 3 crashes: loose material on the road (3).
- Which streets in Santa Clara have the most motorcycle crashes?
- By the street each police report names first, 2021–2026: US-101 (23), Monroe St (12), SR-237 (9), El Camino Real (8), Lawrence Expy (8). Long, busy streets collect more crashes partly because more people use them.
- How many motorcycle crashes happen in Santa Clara each year?
- Reported motorcycle crashes with map locations: 2021: 23, 2022: 22, 2023: 29, 2024: 25, 2025: 25, 2026 (through Oct 19): 9. 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.
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.