As motorcycle riding season heats up, everyone can help keep riders safe
 U.S. 101 near Manzanita.
May 22, 2026
For more information, contact Matt Noble 503-779-9868
May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. We’re reminding drivers and riders to do their part to keep everyone safe during the 2026 riding season.
Safety tips for drivers
In 2024, 85 Oregon motorcycle riders were seriously injured and four riders were killed in crashes where a driver failed to yield the right of way or improperly changed lanes.
Here’s how drivers can help keep motorcycle riders safe:
- Make it a habit to double check for motorcycle riders before you turn or change lanes. You only see what you’re looking for.
- It can be hard to judge distance and speed between you and an approaching motorcycle rider. Make sure you have enough time to complete your turn in front of them.
- Minimize distractions while you’re driving: Keep your phone out of sight. Secure children or pets before you leave. Set up your navigation or climate control while safely stopped.
Safety tips for riders
National data reveals that most fatal motorcycle crashes happen in urban areas, not at intersections, and on clear/cloudy days. In other words, even when you’re riding in ideal conditions, it’s still important to make safe choices.
Here’s how riders can stay safe in traffic:
- Follow the speed limit and adjust to changing road conditions. It helps drivers judge their distance to you and makes it easier for you to make an emergency stop.
- Give other vehicles space around you. Pick a lane position that makes you easy to see and maintain your space cushion between you and other vehicles.
- Help drivers and other travelers see you by wearing high-contrast gear and turning on your motorcycle’s headlight, even during the day.
Oregon motorcycle crash data
Oregon motorcycle crashes where a driver failed to yield the right of way or improperly changed lanes* | 2020-2024
 *Examples of crashes where a driver failed to yield the right of way or improperly changed lanes: They turned in front of a motorcycle rider; they pulled out from a stop sign or driveway into the path of an oncoming motorcycle rider; they entered an intersection without yielding, causing the rider to hit them or swerve; or they changed lanes into the rider.
Oregon motorcycle crashes in 2024
- Total crashes involving motorcycle riders: 911
- Motorcycle rider deaths: 84
- Motorcycle rider serious injuries: 391
The top contributing factors to motorcycle crashes were riding while impaired by alcohol or drugs, riding too fast for road conditions, and exceeding the speed limit.
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