Motorcycle crash statistics and hotspots in Santa Cruz, CA
- motorcycle crashes, 2021–2026
- 57
- motorcycle crashes, 2021–2026
- serious or fatal
- 14
- serious or fatal
- fatal
- 3
- fatal
- street with the most
- Soquel Ave
- street with the most
Is Santa Cruz 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: 57 motorcycle crashes were reported in Santa Cruz from 2021–2026, 14 of them serious or fatal (3 fatal). The most were at Bay St & Escalona Dr (3). 30% involved no other vehicle, usually running wide or losing grip. 26% involved a car turning left across the rider.
Where to look next
How motorcyclists crash in Santa Cruz
- 30% involved no other vehicle, usually running wide or losing grip.
- 26% involved a car turning left across the rider.
- 28% happened after dark.
What the reports show about motorcycle crashes in Santa Cruz
- 28% (California: 25%) of crashes happened after dark.
- 25% (California: 28%) left someone seriously hurt or killed.
- The busiest hour was 4 p.m. (California: 5 p.m.).
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.
- 013 crashes · 2 serious or fatal
Bay St & Escalona Dr
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.
- 024 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
Riverside Ave & San Lorenzo Blvd
Side-impact crashes at the junction
2 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.
- 033 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
Soquel Ave & Frederick 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.
- 043 crashes
Mission St & Chrystal Ter
A mix of crash types
- No single crash pattern stands out here. Ride within your sight distance and keep extra space.
- 053 crashes
Soquel Ave & Ocean 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 Cruz
| Street | Crashes | Serious/fatal |
|---|---|---|
| Soquel Ave | 8 | 2 |
| Mission St | 7 | 2 |
| Water St | 4 | 1 |
| Bay St | 3 | 2 |
| Cliff Dr | 3 | 0 |
| Ocean 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.
Motorcycle crashes in Santa Cruz by year
| Year | Crashes | Serious/fatal | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 11 | 3 | |
| 2022 | 8 | 4 | |
| 2023 | 8 | 2 | |
| 2024 | 11 | 1 | |
| 2025 | 8 | 2 | |
| 2026 | 11 | 2 |
Common questions about Santa Cruz
- Where do the most motorcycle crashes happen in Santa Cruz?
- The worst spot is Bay St & Escalona Dr, with 3 reported motorcycle crashes from 2021–2026, 2 of them serious or fatal. Next are Riverside Ave & San Lorenzo Blvd (4) and Soquel Ave & Frederick St (3).
- How many motorcyclists were killed in Santa Cruz?
- 3 crashes killed someone in 57 reported motorcycle crashes in Santa Cruz from 2021–2026, and 14 left someone seriously hurt or killed.
- How do motorcyclists usually crash in Santa Cruz?
- 30% involved no other vehicle, usually running wide or losing grip. 26% involved a car turning left across the rider. 28% happened after dark.
- When and where do motorcycle crashes happen in Santa Cruz, compared with California?
- Of 57 reported motorcycle crashes in Santa Cruz from 2021–2026: 28% (California: 25%) of crashes happened after dark. 25% (California: 28%) left someone seriously hurt or killed. The busiest hour was 4 p.m. (California: 5 p.m.).
- Which streets in Santa Cruz have the most motorcycle crashes?
- By the street each police report names first, 2021–2026: Soquel Ave (8), Mission St (7), Water St (4), Bay St (3), Cliff Dr (3). Long, busy streets collect more crashes partly because more people use them.
- How many motorcycle crashes happen in Santa Cruz each year?
- Reported motorcycle crashes with map locations: 2021: 11, 2022: 8, 2023: 8, 2024: 11, 2025: 8, 2026: 11. 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), 2021–2026. 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 2026-10-07. How the data works.