Motorcycle crash statistics and hotspots in Sunnyvale, CA
- motorcycle crashes, 2021–2026
- 106
- motorcycle crashes, 2021–2026
- serious or fatal
- 21
- serious or fatal
- fatal
- 5
- fatal
- street with the most
- US-101
- street with the most
Where they cluster
All 9 spots, explainedIs Sunnyvale 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: 106 motorcycle crashes were reported in Sunnyvale from 2021–2026, 21 of them serious or fatal (5 fatal). The most were at US-101 & Lawrence Expressway (4). 25% involved no other vehicle, usually running wide or losing grip. 13% involved a car turning left across the rider.
Where to look next
How motorcyclists crash in Sunnyvale
- 25% involved no other vehicle, usually running wide or losing grip.
- 13% involved a car turning left across the rider.
- 20% happened after dark.
What the reports show about motorcycle crashes in Sunnyvale
- 20% (California: 25%) of crashes happened after dark.
- 70% (California: 80%) were on roads posted 40 mph or faster.
- 20% (California: 28%) left someone seriously hurt or killed.
- The busiest hour was 5 p.m. (California: 5 p.m.).
- 1% (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.
- 014 crashes · 1 serious or fatal · 1 fatal
US-101 & Lawrence Expressway
Close passes and cars turning alongside
Police reports: in 2 of 4, a driver turned or changed lanes when it wasn't clear. 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 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.
- 026 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
US-101 & Lawrence Expy
Falls and fixed objects
3 of 6 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.
- 036 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
US-101 & SR-237
Falls and fixed objects
4 of 6 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
Henderson Ave & El Camino Real
A mix of crash types
- No single crash pattern stands out here. Ride within your sight distance and keep extra space.
- 053 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
Mathilda Ave & Southbay Fwy
Close passes and cars turning alongside
3 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 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.
- 064 crashes
US-101 & Mathilda Ave
Falls and fixed objects
3 of 4 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.
- 073 crashes
SR-237 & Java Dr
Close passes and cars turning alongside
Police reports: in 3 of 3, a driver drifted out of the lane or onto the wrong side. 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.
- 083 crashes
El Camino Real & Taaffe St
Side-impact crashes at the junction
Police reports: in 3 of 3, a driver didn't yield while turning left. 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.
- 093 crashes
US-101 & Mathilda Ave
A mix of crash types
Traffic is posted at about 65 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.
Streets with the most motorcycle crashes in Sunnyvale
| Street | Crashes | Serious/fatal |
|---|---|---|
| US-101 | 29 | 4 |
| SR-237 | 15 | 5 |
| El Camino Real | 11 | 0 |
| Mathilda Ave | 7 | 3 |
| Lawrence Ex | 6 | 1 |
| Wolfe Rd | 5 | 0 |
| Fair Oaks Ave | 4 | 2 |
| Mary Ave | 4 | 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 Sunnyvale
| A driver… | Crashes | |
|---|---|---|
| drifted out of the lane or onto the wrong side | 9 | |
| didn't yield while turning left | 7 | |
| turned or changed lanes when it wasn't clear | 6 | |
| didn't yield pulling out of a driveway or alley | 6 | |
| ran a red light | 4 | |
| drove too fast for conditions | 4 |
The other vehicle, where the report names one: 50 cars, 20 SUVs, 3 truck or semis, 2 minivans and 2 pickup trucks. In 3 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 Sunnyvale by year
| Year | Crashes | Serious/fatal | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 12 | 4 | |
| 2022 | 16 | 3 | |
| 2023 | 12 | 3 | |
| 2024 | 24 | 6 | |
| 2025 | 19 | 3 | |
| 2026to Oct 19 | 23 | 2 |
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 Sunnyvale
- Where do the most motorcycle crashes happen in Sunnyvale?
- The worst spot is US-101 & Lawrence Expressway, with 4 reported motorcycle crashes from 2021–2026, 1 of them serious or fatal. Next are US-101 & Lawrence Expy (6) and US-101 & SR-237 (6).
- How many motorcyclists were killed in Sunnyvale?
- 5 crashes killed someone in 106 reported motorcycle crashes in Sunnyvale from 2021–2026, and 21 left someone seriously hurt or killed.
- How do motorcyclists usually crash in Sunnyvale?
- 25% involved no other vehicle, usually running wide or losing grip. 13% involved a car turning left across the rider. 20% happened after dark.
- When and where do motorcycle crashes happen in Sunnyvale, compared with California?
- Of 106 reported motorcycle crashes in Sunnyvale from 2021–2026: 20% (California: 25%) of crashes happened after dark. 70% (California: 80%) were on roads posted 40 mph or faster. 20% (California: 28%) left someone seriously hurt or killed. The busiest hour was 5 p.m. (California: 5 p.m.). 1% (California: 2%) were on a wet road, as the report records it.
- Which streets in Sunnyvale have the most motorcycle crashes?
- By the street each police report names first, 2021–2026: US-101 (29), SR-237 (15), El Camino Real (11), Mathilda Ave (7), Lawrence Ex (6). Long, busy streets collect more crashes partly because more people use them.
- How many motorcycle crashes happen in Sunnyvale each year?
- Reported motorcycle crashes with map locations: 2021: 12, 2022: 16, 2023: 12, 2024: 24, 2025: 19, 2026 (through Oct 19): 23. 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 Sunnyvale
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.