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In 2024, 1,529 of the 5,950 motorcycle riders killed on U.S. roads were alcohol-impaired, with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 g/dL or higher. That’s 26%, about one in four. The share runs from 12% in Maine to 42% in Idaho among states with at least 30 rider deaths, and Texas had the most impaired rider deaths of any state, 174.
We ranked every state using NHTSA’s newest state table. The full table, method and sources are below, and the data and infographic are free to republish with a link back to this page.
Key findings
- One in four riders killed was drunk. 26% of motorcycle riders killed in 2024 had a BAC of .08 or higher, the same share as in 2023 (1,578 riders). Another 472 riders (8%) had lower but measurable alcohol levels.
- Night is far riskier. Riders killed at night were 2.6 times as likely to be impaired as those killed during the day: 37% versus 14%.
- Solo crashes stand out. 40% of riders who died in single-vehicle crashes were alcohol-impaired (848 of 2,125), compared with 18% in multi-vehicle crashes.
- Weekends are worse. 32% of riders killed on weekends were impaired, against 21% on weekdays.
- Impaired riders wore helmets less often. Reported helmet use was 59% for alcohol-impaired riders killed, against 70% for riders with no alcohol.
Drunk riding deaths by state (2024)
Sorted by the share of riders killed who were alcohol-impaired (BAC .08+). Riders only, not passengers. States with few deaths, such as Vermont (7 riders) and Rhode Island (8), can swing widely from year to year.
| State | Riders killed | Alcohol-impaired (BAC .08+) | Impaired share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vermont | 7 | 4 | 57% |
| Idaho | 42 | 18 | 42% |
| Hawaii | 25 | 10 | 41% |
| Maryland | 93 | 35 | 38% |
| North Dakota | 15 | 6 | 38% |
| Connecticut | 68 | 24 | 35% |
| Oregon | 78 | 26 | 33% |
| Massachusetts | 69 | 23 | 33% |
| Iowa | 58 | 19 | 33% |
| West Virginia | 36 | 12 | 32% |
| Texas | 559 | 174 | 31% |
| Wisconsin | 98 | 30 | 31% |
| Rhode Island | 8 | 2 | 30% |
| Ohio | 210 | 62 | 29% |
| Michigan | 181 | 53 | 29% |
| South Carolina | 147 | 43 | 29% |
| Oklahoma | 97 | 27 | 28% |
| Louisiana | 69 | 19 | 28% |
| Missouri | 137 | 37 | 27% |
| Utah | 52 | 14 | 27% |
| California | 507 | 132 | 26% |
| Arizona | 215 | 56 | 26% |
| North Carolina | 208 | 53 | 25% |
| Colorado | 164 | 41 | 25% |
| New Mexico | 43 | 11 | 25% |
| Wyoming | 23 | 6 | 25% |
| New York | 198 | 49 | 24% |
| Tennessee | 179 | 43 | 24% |
| Indiana | 126 | 30 | 24% |
| Arkansas | 71 | 17 | 24% |
| Kansas | 53 | 13 | 24% |
| South Dakota | 32 | 8 | 24% |
| New Jersey | 109 | 25 | 23% |
| Florida | 615 | 134 | 22% |
| Georgia | 171 | 37 | 22% |
| Illinois | 140 | 31 | 22% |
| Washington | 110 | 25 | 22% |
| Kentucky | 104 | 23 | 22% |
| Pennsylvania | 212 | 45 | 21% |
| Alaska | 10 | 2 | 21% |
| Alabama | 123 | 25 | 20% |
| Virginia | 119 | 24 | 20% |
| Nevada | 86 | 17 | 20% |
| New Hampshire | 33 | 7 | 20% |
| Mississippi | 51 | 10 | 19% |
| Minnesota | 71 | 13 | 18% |
| District of Columbia | 6 | 1 | 18% |
| Montana | 37 | 6 | 17% |
| Nebraska | 30 | 4 | 13% |
| Delaware | 21 | 3 | 13% |
| Maine | 34 | 4 | 12% |
Among states with at least 30 rider deaths:
- Idaho: 42% (18 of 42)
- Maryland: 38% (35 of 93)
- Connecticut: 35% (24 of 68)
- Iowa: 33% (19 of 58)
- Massachusetts: 33% (23 of 69)
- Oregon: 33% (26 of 78)
- West Virginia: 32% (12 of 36)
- Texas: 31% (174 of 559)
- Wisconsin: 31% (30 of 98)
- Michigan: 29% (53 of 181)
The lowest shares were in Maine (12%), Nebraska (13%), Montana (17%), Minnesota (18%) and Mississippi (19%).
States with the most drunk riding deaths
By raw count, Texas (174), Florida (134) and California (132) lead, followed by Ohio (62) and Arizona (56). Texas stands out: its 31% impaired share is well above Florida’s 22% and California’s 26%, even though all three have large riding populations.
Who is most at risk
NHTSA reports the highest impaired share among riders aged 30 to 34 (35%), with riders aged 35 to 49 close behind at 34%. The average age of motorcycle riders killed in 2024 was 40. Motorcycle riders and passenger-car drivers in fatal crashes had the highest impairment rates of any vehicle type (25% each), compared with 19% for light-truck drivers and 4% for large-truck drivers.
How to ride home safely
The simplest rule: if you drink, don’t ride. Motorcycles demand balance, coordination and quick judgment, and alcohol affects all three well below the .08 legal limit. See NHTSA’s drunk driving resources for the legal and safety basics.
- Plan the ride home before the first drink, or leave the bike and take a ride share.
- Riding in a group? Agree on a no-drinking rule before the ride. Our guide on starting a motorcycle club covers setting group ride rules.
- Wear a helmet every ride. Impaired riders who died wore one less often, and our helmet law study shows how much state laws affect helmet use.
- Night riding is when impaired crashes peak, so be visible: good lighting and gear help. Start with the beginner gear checklist.
- Gear that protects in any crash: a well-rated helmet, an airbag vest and a bike with ABS.
For the national picture, see our full motorcycle accident statistics fact sheet.
Methodology and sources
All figures come from NHTSA’s Traffic Safety Facts: Motorcycles, 2024 Data (DOT HS 813 824, July 2026), Tables 6 and 8, built on the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS). Alcohol-impaired means a BAC of .08 g/dL or higher. NHTSA estimates BAC when test results are unknown, so state counts are rounded estimates and add up to slightly more (1,533) than the national total (1,529). Rider deaths exclude passengers. Rankings by share include only states with 30 or more rider deaths.
Use this data
Journalists, bloggers and rider-safety groups are welcome to use the table and infographic. Please credit Throttle Buff with a link to this page. Data on this page is shared under CC BY 4.0. To embed the infographic, copy this code:
<a href="https://throttlebuff.com/drunk-motorcycle-riding-deaths-by-state/"><img src="https://throttlebuff.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/drunk-motorcycle-riding-deaths-by-state-infographic.jpg" alt="Drunk riding deaths by state, 2024" width="1200" height="1050"></a><br>Source: <a href="https://throttlebuff.com/drunk-motorcycle-riding-deaths-by-state/">Throttle Buff</a>Questions about the data? Contact the editor.
FAQ
What percentage of motorcycle deaths involve alcohol?
In 2024, 26% of motorcycle riders killed were alcohol-impaired (BAC .08 or higher), and another 8% had a lower BAC between .01 and .07.
Which state has the most drunk motorcycle deaths?
Texas, with 174 alcohol-impaired rider deaths in 2024, followed by Florida (134) and California (132).
Which state has the highest rate of drunk riding deaths?
Among states with at least 30 rider deaths, Idaho had the highest share at 42%. Vermont’s 57% is higher but comes from only 7 deaths.
When do most drunk motorcycle crashes happen?
At night and on weekends. 37% of riders killed at night were impaired versus 14% during the day, and 32% on weekends versus 21% on weekdays.
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