The Deadliest U.S. Counties for Motorcycles

While motorcycles are fun to ride, there are many safety considerations to think about before hitting the road. Even if proper safety precautions are taken, there are still thousands of motorcycle deaths per year in the United States.

Our research team looked at fatal motorcycle accident statistics to see which counties in the United States were deadliest for people on motorcycles.

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Which Counties Have the Most Fatal Accidents Involving Motorcycles?

To reach our findings, we used statistics from the U.S. Department of Transportation to analyze fatal accidents involving a motorcycle per 100,000 people between 2014 and 2018 in counties with more than 50,000 residents.

Based on our research, these are the ten counties with the most fatal motorcycle crashes and their fatality rate per 100,000 people:

1. Monroe County, FL: 43.110
2. Gila County, AZ: 42.578
3. Volusia County, FL: 27.472
4. Putnam County, FL: 26.838
5. Horry County, SC: 26.265
6. Kershaw County, SC: 25.544
7. Pennington County, SD: 25.489
8. Citrus County, FL: 25.391
9. Cherokee County, SC: 24.433
10. Laurens County, SC: 23.706

In terms of fatal motorcycle accidents unadjusted for population, these ten counties had the most:

1. Los Angeles County, CA: 650
2. Maricopa County, AZ: 412
3. Miami-Dade County, FL: 319
4. Harris County, TX: 298
5. San Diego County, CA: 262
6. Clark County, NV: 223
7. Riverside County, CA: 216
8. Broward County, FL: 215
9. San Bernardino County, CA: 214
10. Hillsborough County, FL: 205

Safety Tips for Drivers and Motorcyclists

Seeing these motorcycle accident statistics may cause people to wonder how they can protect themselves and riders while on the road. While fatal motorcycle crashes have been on the decline, riders are still at risk.

Here are tips for drivers on what they can do to ensure the safety of themselves and motorcycle riders:

• Be aware of blind spots. Motorcycles are much smaller than cars, which can make them even harder to spot.
• Slow down and keep your distance. Give motorcycles plenty of room so you have time to react in case the motorcyclist stops or turns suddenly.
• Use your turn signals. This is important for all drivers regardless of whether a motorcycle is near, but extra awareness is safer for both driver and rider.

If you are thinking of riding a motorcycle, you may be wondering, “Are motorcycles safe?” While there are always risks on the road, when motorcyclists take the necessary precautions, they can keep themselves and other motorists safe. If motorcyclists do find themselves in a collision due to negligent drivers, they may need to contact a motorcycle accident attorney in order to get compensation.

Riders should follow these safety tips:

• Always wear a helmet. Some states do not require riders to wear a helmet, but all riders should. Helmets are the best defense against brain injury in case of a motorcycle accident.
• Check out your bike before riding. Checking the tire pressure, brakes, and fluid levels will help ensure your safety on the road.
• Ride defensively. Since motorcycles are smaller than cars, drivers might not be able to see riders at certain times. Riders should follow all rules of the road and give themselves plenty of distance to turn and stop.