Motorcycle crash hotspots in Santa Monica, CA
- motorcycle crashes, 2021–2025
- 61
- motorcycle crashes, 2021–2025
- serious or fatal
- 20
- serious or fatal
- fatal
- 1
- fatal
Is Santa Monica 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. The records for Santa Monica are also incomplete: only 22% of its reported motorcycle crashes have a map location, so the numbers here are too low. What the records show: 61 motorcycle crashes were reported in Santa Monica from 2021–2025, 20 of them serious or fatal (1 fatal). The most were at I-10 & Centinela Ave (5).
How motorcyclists crash in Santa Monica
- 18% involved no other vehicle, usually running wide or losing grip.
- 13% involved a car turning left across the rider.
- 23% happened after dark.
Where motorcycle crashes cluster
Spots with 3 or more reported crashes within about 250 m, worst first.
- 015 crashes · 2 serious or fatal
I-10 & Centinela Ave
Close passes and cars turning alongside
4 of 5 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.
- 025 crashes · 2 serious or fatal
Ocean Ave & Seaside Ter
A mix of crash types
40% happened after dark.
- 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.
- 034 crashes · 2 serious or fatal
Pacific Coast Hwy
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. Traffic is posted at about 45 mph.
- 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.
- Traffic is fast here: at this speed you cross a junction in about a second, so scan early.
- 046 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
I-10 & Stewart St
Close passes and cars turning alongside
4 of 6 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.
- 055 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
SR-1 Northbound & Mcclure Tunnel
Close passes and cars turning alongside
2 of 5 crashes were sideswipes: a vehicle alongside, typically a close pass, a right hook, or an opening car door. Traffic is posted at about 45 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
I-10 (Santa Monica Freeway) & Lincoln Boulevard
A mix of crash types
100% 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.
Motorcycle crashes in Santa Monica by year
| Year | Crashes | Serious/fatal | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2022 | 9 | 4 | |
| 2023 | 11 | 5 | |
| 2024 | 10 | 3 | |
| 2025 | 24 | 8 |
Common questions about Santa Monica
- Where do the most motorcycle crashes happen in Santa Monica?
- The worst spot is I-10 & Centinela Ave, with 5 reported motorcycle crashes from 2021–2025, 2 of them serious or fatal. Next are Ocean Ave & Seaside Ter (5) and Pacific Coast Hwy (4). These counts are too low for Santa Monica: only 22% of its reported motorcycle crashes have a map location.
- How many motorcyclists were killed in Santa Monica?
- 1 crash killed someone in 61 reported motorcycle crashes in Santa Monica from 2021–2025, and 20 left someone seriously hurt or killed. These counts are too low for Santa Monica: only 22% of its reported motorcycle crashes have a map location.
- How do motorcyclists usually crash in Santa Monica?
- 18% involved no other vehicle, usually running wide or losing grip. 13% involved a car turning left across the rider. 23% happened after dark.
- How many motorcycle crashes happen in Santa Monica each year?
- Reported motorcycle crashes with map locations: 2021: 7, 2022: 9, 2023: 11, 2024: 10, 2025: 24. 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 Monica
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.