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Motorcycle Safety

Millions of people across the United States ride motorcycles – some as a primary or secondary form of transportation, and others as a leisure ride. You can use this material as part of your communication plan to promote motorcycle safety – for motorcyclists and drivers. 

Share this information with partner organizations to help spread the message across all communities. 

A reminder – May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, a good opportunity to increase safety messaging across all platforms. 

Facts

Motorcycle facts, stats and reports from NHTSA's National Center for Statistics and Analysis

Get More Facts & Reports
  • In 2021 there were 5,932 motorcyclists killed, 14 percent of all traffic fatalities. This is the highest number of motorcyclists killed since NHTSA started data collection in 1975.
  • The number of motorcyclist fatalities in 2021 increased by 8 percent from 2020, from 5,506 to 5,932.
  • An estimated 82,686 motorcyclists were injured in 2021, a 5-percent increase from 78,944 motorcyclists injured in 2020.
  • Per vehicle miles traveled in 2021, the fatality rate for motorcyclists (30.20) was almost 24 times the passenger car occupant fatality rate (1.26).
  • Thirty-six percent of motorcycle riders involved in fatal crashes in 2021 were riding without valid motorcycle licenses.
  • In 2021 motorcycle riders involved in fatal crashes had higher percentages of alcohol impairment than drivers of any other motor vehicle type (28% for motorcycles, 24% for passenger cars, 20% for light trucks, and 3% for large trucks).

    For facts translated in Spanish, visit NHTSA.gov/Espanol.

Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month

May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month and you'll see increased communication related to motorcycle safety. You can use any of the material available on this page to increase your motorcycle safety messaging.

Also, a sample news release and op-ed can be downloaded and used during Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month.

  • Coming Soon: 2024 News Release & Op-Ed

Social Media

Sample social media posts are available for you to use on your various social media platforms, including Facebook, X and Instagram.

Images often help boost content engagement, especially on social media posts. Use any of the graphics on this page or photos from our lmage Library, which is linked below.
 

Graphics and Videos

Asset Type

Everyone's Safety | Videos | English
Space Distance | English
Intersections | English
Keep An Eye | English
Obstructed Views | English
Hard To See | English
Adjust Mirrors | English
Weaving Explained | English
Everyone's Safety | Videos | Spanish
Space Distance | Spanish
Intersections | Spanish
Keep An Eye | Spanish
Obstructed Views | Spanish
Hard To See | Spanish
Adjust Mirrors | Spanish
Weaving Explained | Spanish
Before Every Ride | Graphics | English
Rider Checklist Facebook, X, Instagram
Ride Checklist Facebook, X, Instagram
Gear Checklist Facebook, X, Instagram
Passenger Checklist Facebook, X, Instagram
Helmet | Graphics & Video | English
Helmet Compliant | 1200x1200 Facebook, X, Instagram
Helmet Label | 1200x1200 Facebook, X, Instagram
Helmet Rating | 1200x1200 Facebook, X, Instagram
Helmet Recall | 1200x1200 Facebook, X, Instagram
Helmet Size | 1200x1200 Facebook, X, Instagram
Helmet Type | 1200x1200 Facebook, X, Instagram
NHTSA Tested
Ditch the Novelty Helmets
The Right Fit
The Right Kind
Understanding the Safety Ratings

Image Library

Image Library

Ride Sober or Get Pulled Over

Ride Sober or Get Pulled Over is a national enforcement mobilization campaign that focuses specifically on the consequences of operating a motorcycle drunk. For more on this campaign, visit our Ride Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign.

Additional Resources