Washington Sees Motorcycle Fatalities Decline by Over 20%, Strengthening

Washington Sees Motorcycle Fatalities Decline by Over 20%, Strengthening Safety Outcomes

Key Takeaways

• Washington ranks among the top states in safety improvement: With a -20.14% decline, Washington reduced motorcycle fatalities from 139 to 111, reflecting a strong year-over-year improvement in rider safety.
• A clear performance gap separates leading states: While Washington shows steady progress, it trails Vermont (-61.11%), Rhode Island (-46.67%), and Louisiana (-26.80%), indicating variation in the scale of reductions.
• The contrast with the worst-performing states is stark: While Washington achieved a decline, Maine (+125.00%), Wyoming (+84.62%), and Delaware (+64.29%) recorded sharp increases, highlighting a divided national safety landscape.

Motorcycle safety outcomes across the United States vary widely, but Washington stands out with notable improvement nationwide. The state reduced rider fatalities from 139 in 2023 to 111 in 2024, a -20.14% decline, placing it among the top-performing states. This reduction highlights how a decrease of 28 fatalities can significantly improve outcomes in larger states and underscores the role of regional safety efforts in shaping rider risk.

The study, conducted by Easton & Easton, LLP , analyzed motorcycle rider fatality data across all 50 U.S. states for 2023 and 2024, focusing on year-over-year percentage changes to assess shifts in safety outcomes. For each state, total fatalities in 2024 were compared with 2023 figures to calculate the percentage rise or fall, which served as the primary ranking metric. Additional breakdowns of fatalities occurring on interstates and at intersections were also examined to identify location-specific trends. States were then ranked from greatest decline (Rank 1) to highest increase (Rank 50) based on overall percentage change in fatalities.

Washington’s Safety Snapshot: Motorcycle Fatalities and Key Statistics

Using Data From 2023–2024

How Washington Compares to Other Top-Performing States

States with the Steepest Percentage Drop in Motorcycle Fatalities (2023–2024)

Washington ranks fourth and reflects a mid-tier improvement, with a -20.14% decline compared to -61.11% in Vermont, -46.67% in Rhode Island, and -26.80% in Louisiana. Most states below this point cluster closely between -10% and -20%.

In effect, while several states show meaningful improvements in motorcycle safety, Washington aligns with the broader group of steady performers rather than the top tier. Its progress is notable but less pronounced.

Washington’s Motorcycle Fatalities by Road Type

Breakdown of Interstate and Intersection Fatalities (2023–2024)

Washington’s decline in motorcycle fatalities is driven primarily by reductions at intersections, while interstate fatalities remained unchanged. Total deaths fell from 139 to 111.

The mixed pattern suggests that improvements are more concentrated in certain road environments rather than across all categories.

How Washington Compares to States with the Sharpest Increases in Motorcycle Fatalities

Contrast Between Washington’s Decline and States with the Highest Percentage Rise (2023–2024)

The contrast between Washington and the worst-performing states is evident. While Washington achieved a -20.14% decline, states like Maine and Wyoming recorded sharp increases, creating a gap of over 145 percentage points.

Even mid-tier increases, such as in Nebraska and Kansas, are over 50 percentage points apart from Washington’s performance, highlighting uneven safety trends.

Methodology

The study analyzed motorcycle rider fatality data across all 50 U.S. states for 2023 and 2024, focusing on year-over-year percentage changes to assess shifts in safety outcomes. For each state, total fatalities in 2024 were compared with 2023 figures to calculate the percentage rise or fall, which served as the primary ranking metric. Additional breakdowns of fatalities occurring on interstates and at intersections were also examined to identify location-specific trends. States were then ranked from greatest decline (Rank 1) to highest increase (Rank 50) based on overall percentage change in fatalities.

Data Sources

Fatal Motorcycle Crashes (2023-2024):

https://cdan.dot.gov/query

U.S. Population Data:

https://data.census.gov/table?q=population+by+age+by+state

Research Datasheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/18MpPJee4_xegK10cmuUX7Lb_6iTPEGWXwLHP_La3zzQ/edit?gid=0#gid=0

Study By:
https://www.eastonlawoffices.com/

About Easton & Easton, LLP

Easton & Easton, LLP is a personal injury and wrongful death law firm with more than 100 years of combined legal experience. The firm represents individuals and families harmed by motor vehicle collisions, including motorcycle crashes, and advocates for safer road design and stronger rider protections.

CLICK HERE TO DONATE IN SUPPORT OF DCREPORT’S NONPROFIT MISSION

Create a PDF