Key Takeaways
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Colorado ranks among the states with rising safety concerns: With a +27.82% increase, Colorado saw motorcycle fatalities climb from 133 to 170, marking a significant year-over-year deterioration.
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A clear performance gap separates leading states: While top performers like Vermont (-61.11%), Rhode Island (-46.67%), and Louisiana (-26.80%) achieved strong declines, Colorado moved in the opposite direction.
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The contrast with the top-performing states is stark: While Colorado recorded a significant increase, Vermont reduced fatalities from 18 to 7, Rhode Island from 15 to 8, and Louisiana from 97 to 71, highlighting sharply diverging safety outcomes nationwide.
Motorcycle safety outcomes across the United States vary widely, but Colorado shows a concerning upward trend in fatalities. The state saw rider deaths increase from 133 in 2023 to 170 in 2024, a +27.82% rise, placing it among the lower-performing states. This increase highlights how an additional 37 fatalities can significantly worsen outcomes and underscores the role of local safety conditions 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 based on overall percentage change in fatalities.
Colorado’s Safety Snapshot: Motorcycle Fatalities and Key Statistics
Using Data From 2023–2024
|
Metric |
Value |
|---|---|
|
National Rank (by % Rise in Fatalities) |
#9 |
|
Motorcycle Rider Fatalities (2023) |
133 |
|
Motorcycle Rider Fatalities (2024) |
170 |
|
Percentage Change |
+27.82% |
|
Interstate Fatalities (2023–2024) |
10 → 20 |
|
Intersection Fatalities (2023–2024) |
57 → 75 |
How Colorado Compares to Other Top 10 States
States with the Highest Percentage Rise in Motorcycle Fatalities (2023–2024)
|
Rank |
State |
Motorcycle Rider Fatalities 2023 |
Motorcycle Rider Fatalities 2024 |
% Rise/Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Maine |
16 |
36 |
125.00% |
|
2 |
Wyoming |
13 |
24 |
84.62% |
|
3 |
Delaware |
14 |
23 |
64.29% |
|
4 |
Kansas |
42 |
56 |
33.33% |
|
5 |
Nebraska |
22 |
29 |
31.82% |
|
6 |
Alabama |
95 |
125 |
31.58% |
|
7 |
New Jersey |
88 |
115 |
30.68% |
|
8 |
Utah |
41 |
53 |
29.27% |
|
9 |
Colorado |
133 |
170 |
27.82% |
|
10 |
Montana |
29 |
37 |
27.59% |
Colorado ranks #9, with a +27.82% increase compared to +125.00% in Maine and +27.59% in Montana.
In effect, while several states show rising motorcycle fatalities, Colorado sits within a broader cluster of moderate increases. Its position reflects worsening outcomes, though not at the extreme levels seen in the top-ranked states like Maine, Wyoming, or Delaware.
Colorado’s Motorcycle Fatalities by Road Type
Breakdown of Interstate and Intersection Fatalities (2023–2024)
|
Metric |
2023 |
2024 |
% Rise/Fall |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Total Motorcycle Rider Fatalities |
133 |
170 |
+27.82% |
|
Interstate Fatalities |
10 |
20 |
+100.00% |
|
Intersection Fatalities |
57 |
75 |
+31.58% |
Sharp rises across both road types drive Colorado’s increase in motorcycle fatalities. Interstate deaths doubled from 10 to 20 (+100.00%), while intersection fatalities rose from 57 to 75 (+31.58%). Total deaths rose from 133 to 170.
The pattern suggests growing risks across all road environments, with interstate fatalities showing the most dramatic deterioration.
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 based on the overall percentage change in fatalities.
Data Sources
Fatal Motorcycle Crashes (2023-2024):
U.S. Population Data:
https://data.census.gov/table?q=population+by+age+by+state
Research Datasheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1hiFGLAaWfj7ZRwqaCHbsPN7moaEaPpbclXPFJnl7HyQ/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.
