Motorcycle crash statistics and hotspots in South Lake Tahoe, CA
- motorcycle crashes, 2021–2026
- 50
- motorcycle crashes, 2021–2026
- serious or fatal
- 5
- serious or fatal
- fatal
- 0
- fatal
- street with the most
- Lake Tahoe Blvd
- street with the most
Where they cluster
All 5 spots, explainedIs South Lake Tahoe 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: 50 motorcycle crashes were reported in South Lake Tahoe from 2021–2026, 5 of them serious or fatal. The most were at Lake Tahoe Blvd & Midway Rd (5). 46% involved a car turning left across the rider. 14% happened after dark.
Where to look next
How motorcyclists crash in South Lake Tahoe
- 46% involved a car turning left across the rider.
- 14% happened after dark.
What the reports show about motorcycle crashes in South Lake Tahoe
- 14% (California: 25%) of crashes happened after dark.
- 58% (California: 80%) were on roads posted 40 mph or faster.
- 10% (California: 28%) left someone seriously hurt or killed.
- The busiest hour was 4 p.m. (California: 5 p.m.).
- 0% (California: 2%) were on a wet road, as the report records it.
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.
- 015 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
Lake Tahoe Blvd & Midway Rd
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. 40% happened after dark.
- 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.
- 025 crashes
Lake Tahoe Blvd & Fairway Ave
Side-impact crashes at the junction
3 of 5 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 40 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.
- 034 crashes
Lake Tahoe Blvd & Park Ave
Riders hit from behind
Police reports: in 2 of 4, a driver didn't yield while turning left. 2 of 4 crashes were rear-end: hit from behind.
- Check your mirrors when slowing, flash your brake light, and leave an escape gap when you stop in traffic.
- 044 crashes
Lake Tahoe Blvd & Ski Run Blvd
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 40 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.
- 053 crashes
Lake Tahoe Blvd & Herbert Ave
A mix of crash types
Traffic is posted at about 40 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.
What the police reports say drivers did in South Lake Tahoe
| A driver… | Crashes | |
|---|---|---|
| didn't yield while turning left | 9 | |
| turned or changed lanes when it wasn't clear | 8 | |
| didn't yield pulling out of a driveway or alley | 7 | |
| ran a stop sign or didn't yield after stopping | 2 | |
| drove under the influence | 2 |
The other vehicle, where the report names one: 23 cars, 15 SUVs, 7 pickup trucks and 1 truck or semi. In 4 crashes the report says the other driver had been drinking or was on drugs.
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 South Lake Tahoe by year
| Year | Crashes | Serious/fatal | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2022 | 8 | 1 | |
| 2023 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2024 | 14 | 1 | |
| 2025 | 7 | 2 | |
| 2026to Oct 19 | 12 | 1 |
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 South Lake Tahoe
- Where do the most motorcycle crashes happen in South Lake Tahoe?
- The worst spot is Lake Tahoe Blvd & Midway Rd, with 5 reported motorcycle crashes from 2021–2026, 1 of them serious or fatal. Next are Lake Tahoe Blvd & Fairway Ave (5) and Lake Tahoe Blvd & Park Ave (4).
- How many motorcyclists were killed in South Lake Tahoe?
- No deaths were reported in 50 reported motorcycle crashes in South Lake Tahoe from 2021–2026, and 5 left someone seriously hurt or killed.
- How do motorcyclists usually crash in South Lake Tahoe?
- 46% involved a car turning left across the rider. 14% happened after dark.
- When and where do motorcycle crashes happen in South Lake Tahoe, compared with California?
- Of 50 reported motorcycle crashes in South Lake Tahoe from 2021–2026: 14% (California: 25%) of crashes happened after dark. 58% (California: 80%) were on roads posted 40 mph or faster. 10% (California: 28%) left someone seriously hurt or killed. The busiest hour was 4 p.m. (California: 5 p.m.). 0% (California: 2%) were on a wet road, as the report records it.
- How many motorcycle crashes happen in South Lake Tahoe each year?
- Reported motorcycle crashes with map locations: 2021: 4, 2022: 8, 2023: 5, 2024: 14, 2025: 7, 2026 (through Oct 19): 12. 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.
Places to ride to near South Lake Tahoe
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.