1. Texas records the nation’s highest weekend motorcycle fatality rate at 77.08 per 100,000 registered motorcycles, followed by Mississippi (76.98), South Carolina (60.30), Missouri (53.79), and North Carolina (50.67).
2. Southern states claim 7 of the 10 highest weekend motorcycle fatality rates in America, averaging 44.8 per 100,000, nearly double the Northeastern average of 24.4. No Northeastern state ranks in the top 15.
3. Montana records the lowest weekend motorcycle fatality rate at 3.79 per 100,000, followed by South Dakota (8.87), New York (12.02), Utah (12.71), and Alaska (13.92). None of the five safest states is in the South.
For millions of Americans, the weekend marks the start of a ride. Engines turn over in driveways from coast to coast, carrying riders through backroads, mountain passes, and sun-warmed highways. It is a ritual rooted in freedom and the pull of the open road. But not every ride ends with a safe return home. Across the country, the two days meant for rest and recreation carry a disproportionate share of the nation’s motorcycle fatalities.
This analysis was conducted by Beck & Beck, examining five years of fatal motorcycle crash data (2020 to 2024) from the NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) and motorcycle registration figures from the Federal Highway Administration Highway Statistics Series to calculate the average annual weekend motorcycle fatality rate per 100,000 registered motorcycles for all 50 states.
The States With the Highest Weekend Motorcycle Fatality Rates in America
Table 1: Top 10 States by Weekend Motorcycle Fatality Rate per 100,000 Registered Motorcycles (2020 to 2024)
| Rank | State | Avg. Annual Weekend Fatalities | Avg. Registered Motorcycles | Rate per100,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas | 258.0 | 334,732 | 77.08 |
| 2 | Mississippi | 24.0 | 31,178 | 76.98 |
| 3 | South Carolina | 73.2 | 121,393 | 60.30 |
| 4 | Missouri | 71.8 | 133,494 | 53.79 |
| 5 | North Carolina | 97.2 | 191,839 | 50.67 |
| 6 | Hawaii | 13.4 | 27,643 | 48.47 |
| 7 | Nevada | 36.6 | 78,495 | 46.63 |
| 8 | Florida | 295.4 | 633,725 | 46.61 |
| 9 | Kentucky | 46.0 | 102,810 | 44.74 |
| 10 | Georgia | 94.4 | 216,057 | 43.69 |
The top 10 states average a rate of 54.90 per 100,000, which is 4.0 times the average of the bottom 10 states (13.78).
The States With the Most Weekend Motorcycle Deaths by Volume
Table 2: Top 10 States by Average Annual Weekend Motorcycle Fatalities, Raw Count (2020 to 2024)
| RawRank | State | Avg. Annual Weekend Fatalities | Avg. Registered Motorcycles | Rate per 100,000 | Rate Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florida | 295.4 | 633,725 | 46.61 | 8 |
| 2 | California | 271.4 | 785,527 | 34.55 | 19 |
| 3 | Texas | 258.0 | 334,732 | 77.08 | 1 |
| 4 | Ohio | 105.2 | 412,788 | 25.49 | 34 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | 104.8 | 361,924 | 28.96 | 28 |
| 6 | North Carolina | 97.2 | 191,839 | 50.67 | 5 |
| 7 | Arizona | 97.0 | 251,379 | 38.59 | 17 |
| 8 | Georgia | 94.4 | 216,057 | 43.69 | 10 |
| 9 | New York | 94.2 | 783,888 | 12.02 | 48 |
| 10 | Michigan | 82.2 | 254,214 | 32.33 | 25 |
Florida, California, and Texas together account for 824.8 weekend motorcycle fatalities per year, or 29% of the national total. New York ranks 9th in raw deaths (94.2 per year) but 48th on rate (12.02), because its 783,888 registered motorcycles, the second most in the nation, absorb the count.
Southern States Dominate Risk Rankings With a Rate Nearly Double the Northeast
Table 3: Average Weekend Motorcycle Fatality Rate by Region (2020 to 2024)
| Region | No. ofStates | Avg. Rate per 100,000 | Total Avg. Annual Weekend Fatalities | Highest-Rate State | Its Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South | 16 | 44.8 | 1,254.0 | Texas | 77.08 |
| West | 13 | 30.1 | 668.4 | Hawaii | 48.47 |
| Midwest | 12 | 25.1 | 582.2 | Missouri | 53.79 |
| Northeast | 9 | 24.4 | 349.4 | Connecticut | 39.57 |
11 of the top 20 states by rate are Southern, and 7 of the top 10 are Southern. The highest-ranking Northeastern state, Connecticut, sits at 16th with a rate of 39.57.
The States With the Lowest Weekend Motorcycle Fatality Rates
Table 4: 10 Lowest-Rate States for Weekend Motorcycle Fatalities (2020 to 2024)
| Rank | State | Avg. Annual Weekend Fatalities | Avg. Registered Motorcycles | Rate per 100,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 41 | North Dakota | 8.0 | 41,533 | 19.26 |
| 42 | Wisconsin | 56.2 | 296,706 | 18.94 |
| 43 | New Hampshire | 14.8 | 84,678 | 17.48 |
| 44 | Iowa | 31.8 | 193,488 | 16.44 |
| 45 | Minnesota | 32.8 | 228,816 | 14.33 |
| 46 | Alaska | 3.6 | 25,869 | 13.92 |
| 47 | Utah | 22.0 | 173,076 | 12.71 |
| 48 | New York | 94.2 | 783,888 | 12.02 |
| 49 | South Dakota | 12.4 | 139,774 | 8.87 |
| 50 | Montana | 15.2 | 400,724 | 3.79 |
None of the five lowest-rate states is in the South. New York averages 94.2 weekend motorcycle fatalities per year, but its 783,888 registrations produce a rate 62% below the national average.
Methodology
This study analyzed five years of fatal motorcycle crash data (2020 to 2024) from the NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), a national census of all fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes on public roads in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Motorcycles were identified using the VIN-decoded variable, and fatalities were defined as persons with an injury severity code of 4 (fatal) who were occupants of motorcycle-classified vehicles. Weekend crashes were filtered using the DAY_WEEK variable (Saturday = 7, Sunday = 1).
Data Sources
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS): https://cdan.dot.gov/query
Federal Highway Administration Highway Statistics Series: https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/statistics.cfm
Research Dataset: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1w2Maam3Hw6Ets5WVQ-zrx13w-drAN-qXlHQcE7zY4GI/edit?usp=drivesdk
Study by: https://becklawmo.com/
About Beck & Beck
Beck & Beck is a Missouri-based personal injury law firm focusing exclusively on motor vehicle accident cases. The firm represents individuals injured in motorcycle crashes, automobile collisions, and other traffic incidents across Missouri, handling investigation, negotiations, and litigation.
