Motorcycle crash hotspots in Santa Maria, CA
- motorcycle crashes, 2021–2025
- 76
- motorcycle crashes, 2021–2025
- serious or fatal
- 24
- serious or fatal
- fatal
- 5
- fatal
Is Santa Maria 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: 76 motorcycle crashes were reported in Santa Maria from 2021–2025, 24 of them serious or fatal (5 fatal). The most were at Broadway & Liberty St (3). 22% involved no other vehicle, usually running wide or losing grip. 21% involved a car turning left across the rider.
How motorcyclists crash in Santa Maria
- 22% involved no other vehicle, usually running wide or losing grip.
- 21% involved a car turning left across the rider.
- 36% 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
Broadway & Liberty 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.
- 025 crashes
Us 101 To Broadway (SR-135) & Broadway (SR-135)
Falls and fixed objects
3 of 5 crashes were a fall or hitting an object, with no other vehicle involved. 40% happened after dark. Traffic is posted at about 65 mph.
- Enter slower than feels necessary and watch for gravel, sand and diesel. Look through the bend.
- 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.
- 033 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
Broadway & Preisker Ln
A mix of crash types
Traffic is posted at about 45 mph. 67% were hit-and-run.
- 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
US-101 Northbound & Donovan Road O/C
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 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.
Motorcycle crashes in Santa Maria by year
| Year | Crashes | Serious/fatal | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 18 | 5 | |
| 2022 | 20 | 6 | |
| 2023 | 9 | 3 | |
| 2024 | 12 | 4 | |
| 2025 | 17 | 6 |
Common questions about Santa Maria
- Where do the most motorcycle crashes happen in Santa Maria?
- The worst spot is Broadway & Liberty St, with 3 reported motorcycle crashes from 2021–2025, 2 of them serious or fatal. Next are Us 101 To Broadway (SR-135) & Broadway (SR-135) (5) and Broadway & Preisker Ln (3).
- How many motorcyclists were killed in Santa Maria?
- 5 crashes killed someone in 76 reported motorcycle crashes in Santa Maria from 2021–2025, and 24 left someone seriously hurt or killed.
- How do motorcyclists usually crash in Santa Maria?
- 22% involved no other vehicle, usually running wide or losing grip. 21% involved a car turning left across the rider. 36% happened after dark.
- How many motorcycle crashes happen in Santa Maria each year?
- Reported motorcycle crashes with map locations: 2021: 18, 2022: 20, 2023: 9, 2024: 12, 2025: 17. 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.