What are San Diego's most dangerous roads for motorcycle riders?

Motorcycle accident data for San Diego County from 2015 - August 1, 2018.

We mapped and analyzed the most recent years of motorcycle accident locations for each city within San Diego County as reported by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) database.

In identifying the top three roads with the most motorcycle accidents, we hoped focusing on the recent years could be of use NOW for motorcycle riders. We will continue and extend the study through 2010 and then to 2000 to see if any of these change or if perhaps there were some temporary hazards.

San Diego County: Motorcycle Accidents Per City
2015 - August 1, 2018

  1. San Diego 2378 motorcycle accidents
  2. Unincorporated San Diego 1580 motorcycle accidents
  3. Oceanside 372 motorcycle accidents
  4. Chula Vista 316 motorcycle accidents
  5. Escondido 263 motorcycle accidents
  6. Carlsbad 232 motorcycle accidents
  7. El Cajon 216 motorcycle accidents
  8. National City 185 motorcycle accidents
  9. Vista 133 motorcycle accidents
  10. San Marcos 132 motorcycle accidents
  11. La Mesa 123 motorcycle accidents
  12. Encinitas 101 motorcycle accidents
  13. Coronado 79 motorcycle accidents
  14. Santee 69 motorcycle accidents
  15. Unincorporated Alpine 33 motorcycle accidents
  16. Poway 29 motorcycle accidents
  17. Solana Beach 28 motorcycle accidents
  18. Imperial Beach 24 motorcycle accidents
  19. Lemon Grove 21 motorcycle accidents
  20. Del Mar 11 motorcycle accidents

San Diego County: Motorcycle Accidents Per City
2015 - August 1, 2018 San Diego County cities by the number of motorcycle accidents reported from 2015 through August 1, 2018

San Diego roads with the most motorcycle accidents 
January 1, 2015 – August 1, 2018

  1. I-805 (288)
  2. I-5 (281)
  3. I-15 (161)
City of San Diego motorcycle accidents, injury, and fatality of motorcycle riders from 2015 through August 1, 2018

We identified the top three most dangerous roads in located within San Diego by looking at the total number of motorcycle accident incidents, the severity of injury, and the number of fatal motorcycle accidents reported in each.

Unincorporated San Diego roads with the most accidents
January 1, 2015 – August 1, 2018

  1. SR 76 (171)
  2. SR 94 (150)
  3. SR 78 (132)

 

Bar Graph San Diego County unincorporated San Diego part of San Diego County roads and highways reported by the CHP California Highway Patrol graph depicting Motorcycle Accidents, injuries to motorcyclists, and deaths to motorcyclists from 2015 through August 1, 2018

We identified the top three most dangerous roads in located within unincorporated parts of San Diego County. We looked at the total number of motorcycle accident incidents, the severity of injury, and the number of fatal motorcycle accidents reported in each. The graph helps visualize the high percentage of motorcycle accidents that just these three roads contribute significantly toward.

When looking at the top three roads in each city within San Diego County with the most motorcycle accidents. It is important to note that sometimes there are cities that have many more roads with the third or fourth place number of motorcycle accidents within their city limits on many more roads / intersections,

Many of the identified worst intersections / roads, many are highways or interstates. In examining motorcycle accidents by city, some of the roads although listed under a different city jurisdiction, are actually the same road listed in a neighboring jurisdiction. This occurs with Del Mar and Solana Beach with Via De La Valle - Solana Beach reports 5 motorcycle accidents, while Del Mar reports 4, which combined, to 9, remove this road from a pretty low conflict area expectancy area.

The road Via De La Valle is reported in both Solana Beach and Del Mar, and the intersecting highway 101 or Camino Del Mar are also changing in name depending on reporting from del Mar vs. Solanaa Beach, so the total motorcycle accidents should be combined as they are the same roads.

When the motorcycle accidents on the same road / intersection conflict area are combined on these border-line city roads instances can hopefully help motorcycle riders identify the more significant areas of higher rates of conflict. The GPS Latitude / Longitude location is much more specific, but sometimes technologically less accurate than the primary road / secondary road information.

The heat map above shows points by a longitude, latitude coordinate pair location where a motorcycle accident occured. From the Source of the California Highway Patrol reporting Raw Data for 2010 through August 1, 2018, roughly 40% of the motorcycle accident data had the latitude / longigutde data recorded for the motorcycle accident. Some jurisdictions had zero longitude / latitude data availalbe. In the heat map above you can also see that some locations for a motorcycle accident place the accident in the Pacific Ocean! The rapid improvement in GIS technology is exciting along with the hope and goal of the Vision Zero Act to end all road deaths for all road users.

San Diego County Roads with the most motorcycle accidents
January 1, 2015 – August 1, 2018

Oceanside
Chula Vista
Escondido
Carlsbad
El Cajon
National City
Vista
San Marcos
La Mesa
Encinitas
Coronado
Santee
Unincorporated Alpine
Poway
Solana Beach
Imperial Beach
Lemon Grove
Del Mar

Oceanside roads with the most motorcycle accidents
January 1, 2015 – August 1, 2018

  1. SR-76 (60)
  2. I-5 (46)
  3. SR-78 (43)
  4. Oceanside Boulevard (43)

 

 

Bar Graph San Diego County Oceanside roads and highways reported by the CHP California Highway Patrol graph depicting Motorcycle Accidents, injuries to motorcyclists, and deaths to motorcyclists from 2015 through August 1, 2018

 

Carlsbad roads with the most motorcycle accidents 
January 1, 2015 – August 1, 2018

  1. I-5 Freeway (85)
  2. Carlsbad Blvd (28)
  3. Palomar Airport Road (22)

 

The I-5 is again in the top three worst roads, the others are distinctly Carlsbad. The motorcycle accident fatalities in the city of Carlsbad are quite a bit lower than San Diego.

 

Bar Graph of San Diego County city of Carlsbad depicting Carlsbad Motorcycle Accidents, injuries to motorcyclists, and deaths to motorcyclists in San Diego city from 2015 through August 1, 2018

 

 

Chula Vista roads with the most motorcycle accidents
January 1, 2015 – August 1, 2018

  1. : I-805 (42)
  2. I-5 (27)
  3. Olympic Parkway (20)

 

In Chula Vista, as in the city of San Diego, the same most dangerous roads number one and number two.

 

Bar Graph San Diego County city of Chula Vista bar graph depicting Chula Vista Motorcycle Accidents, injuries to motorcyclists, and deaths to motorcyclists in San Diego city from 2015 through August 1, 2018

 

Escondido roads with the most motorcycle accidents
January 1, 2015 – August 1, 2018

  1. I-15 (69)
  2. El Norte Pkwy (20)
  3. SR-78 (19)

 

Bar Graph San Diego County city of Escondido bar graph depicting Chula Vista Motorcycle Accidents, injuries to motorcyclists, and deaths to motorcyclists in Escondido city from 2015 through August 1, 2018

 

 

Vista roads with the most motorcycle accidents
January 1, 2015 – August 1, 2018

  1. SR-78 (33)

  2. South Melrose Drive (12)

  3. East Vista Way (12)

 

Bar Graph San Diego County city of Vista bar graph depicting Vista Motorcycle Accidents, injuries to motorcyclists, and deaths to motorcyclists in Vista city from 2015 through August 1, 2018

 

Unincorporated Alpine Roads with the most motorcycle accidents
January 1, 2015 – August 1, 2018

  1. SR-4 (Alpine State Highway) (14)
  2. State Route 88 (8)
  3. State RouteE 89 (6)

 

Bar Graph San Diego County unincorporated Alpine part of San Diego County roads and highways reported by the CHP California Highway Patrol graph depicting Motorcycle Accidents, injuries to motorcyclists, and deaths to motorcyclists from 2015 through August 1, 2018

 

El Cajon roads with the most motorcycle accidents
January 1, 2015 – August 1, 2018

  1. I-8 (48)
  2. Main Street (24)
  3. Greenfield Drive (16)

 

Bar Graph San Diego County city of El Cajon roads and highways reported by the CHP California Highway Patrol graph depicting Motorcycle Accidents, injuries to motorcyclists, and deaths to motorcyclists from 2015 through August 1, 2018

San Marcos roads with the most motorcycle accidents
January 1, 2015 – August 1, 2018

  1. SR-78 (79)
  2. Twin Oaks Valley Road (28)
  3. San Marcos Boulevard (22)

 

Bar Graph San Diego County San Marcos roads and highways reported by the CHP California Highway Patrol graph depicting Motorcycle Accidents, injuries to motorcyclists, and deaths to motorcyclists from 2015 through August 1, 2018

Encinitas roads with the most motorcycle accidents
January 1, 2015 – August 1, 2018

  1. I-5 (55)
  2. Encinitas Boulevard (22)
  3. Leucadia Boulevard (14)

 

Bar Graph San Diego County Encinitas roads and highways reported by the CHP California Highway Patrol graph depicting Motorcycle Accidents, injuries to motorcyclists, and deaths to motorcyclists from 2015 through August 1, 2018

 

National City roads with the most motorcycle accidents
January 1, 2015 – August 1, 2018

  1. I-5 (66)
  2. 805 (27)
  3. 8th Street (26)

 

Bar Graph San Diego County National City roads and highways reported by the CHP California Highway Patrol graph depicting Motorcycle Accidents, injuries to motorcyclists, and deaths to motorcyclists from 2015 through August 1, 2018

 

Solana Beach roads with the most motorcycle accidents
January 1, 2015 – August 1, 2018

  1. I-5 (15)
  2. Lomas Santa Fe (12)
  3. Manchester (6)
  4. Via De La Valle (5 )
    *Note same road is reported under Del Mar + 4 motorcycle accidents = 9 total

 

Bar Graph San Diego County Solana Beach roads and highways reported by the CHP California Highway Patrol graph depicting Motorcycle Accidents, injuries to motorcyclists, and deaths to motorcyclists from 2015 through August 1, 2018

 

Del Mar roads with the most motorcycle accidents
January 1, 2015 – August 1, 2018

  1. Via De La Valle (4)
    *Note same road is reported underSolana Beach + 5 more motorcycle accidents = 9 total
  2. Camino Del Mar (4)
  3. Jimmy Durante Boulevard (4)

 

Bar Graph San Diego County National City roads and highways reported by the CHP California Highway Patrol graph depicting Motorcycle Accidents, injuries to motorcyclists, and deaths to motorcyclists from 2015 through August 1, 2018

 

Poway roads with the most motorcycle accidents
January 1, 2015 – August 1, 2018

  1. Poway Road (10)
  2. Pomerado Road (7)
  3. Twin Peaks Road (7)
  4. Community Road (7)

 

Bar Graph San Diego County Poway roads and highways reported by the CHP California Highway Patrol graph depicting Motorcycle Accidents, injuries to motorcyclists, and deaths to motorcyclists from 2015 through August 1, 2018

 

La Mesa roads with the most motorcycle accidents
January 1, 2015 – August 1, 2018

  1. I-8 (26)
  2. SR-125 (29)
  3. Grossmont Boulevard (25)

 

Bar Graph San Diego County La Mesa roads and highways reported by the CHP California Highway Patrol graph depicting Motorcycle Accidents, injuries to motorcyclists, and deaths to motorcyclists from 2015 through August 1, 2018

Coronado roads with the most motorcycle accidents
January 1, 2015 – August 1, 2018

  1. SR-75 Coronado Bridge (25)
  2. Orange Avenue (17)
  3. 4th Street (12)

 

Bar Graph San Diego County Coronado roads and highways reported by the CHP California Highway Patrol graph depicting Motorcycle Accidents, injuries to motorcyclists, and deaths to motorcyclists from 2015 through August 1, 2018

Unincorporated Alpine Roads with the most motorcycle accidents 
January 1, 2015 – August 1, 2018

  1. SR-4 (Alpine State Highway) (14)
  2. SR-88 (8)
  3. SR-89 (6)

 

Bar Graph San Diego County Unincorporated Alpine roads and highways reported by the CHP California Highway Patrol graph depicting Motorcycle Accidents, injuries to motorcyclists, and deaths to motorcyclists from 2015 through August 1, 2018

Santee roads with the most motorcycle accidents
January 1, 2015 – August 1, 2018

  1. SR-52 (33)
  2. Mission Gorge Road (19)
  3. Cuyamaca Street (8)

 

Bar Graph San Diego County Santee roads and highways reported by the CHP California Highway Patrol graph depicting Motorcycle Accidents, injuries to motorcyclists, and deaths to motorcyclists from 2015 through August 1, 2018

 

Lemon Grove roads with the most motorcycle accidents
January 1, 2015 – August 1, 2018

  1. SR-94 (15)
  2. Massachusetts Avenue (7)
  3. SR-125 (6)

 

Bar Graph San Diego County Lemon Grove roads and highways reported by the CHP California Highway Patrol graph depicting Motorcycle Accidents, injuries to motorcyclists, and deaths to motorcyclists from 2015 through August 1, 2018

 

Imperial Beach roads with the most motorcycle accidents
January 1, 2015 – August 1, 2018

  1. Palm Avenue (13)
  2. Rainbow Drive (4)
  3. Imperial Beach Drive (3)

 

Bar Graph San Diego County Imperial Beach roads and highways reported by the CHP California Highway Patrol graph depicting Motorcycle Accidents, injuries to motorcyclists, and deaths to motorcyclists from 2015 through August 1, 2018

Next Up

We will continue looking at bigger data sets like motorcycle accidents from 2010-2018 in all of San Diego County, and even bigger, 2000 - 2018, and are curious to see if the identified dangerous roads and intersections will continue to hold from the small data set of the three most recent years. That said, San Diego Department of Transportation are smart, and we expect that whenever a road or intersection presents a particular hazard or danger, they are quick to recognize that and proactive in addressing what is causing the increased danger such that, perhaps the last few years of identified dangerous roads and intersections will hold up even when looking at many more years.

We are curious if any roads or intersections identified for motorcycle riders as a danger, may also be dangerous to bicycle riders and or pedestrians.

Our guess is that pedestrians and bicycle riders may have more in common with roads and risks than with motorcycle riders. We may be wrong. For this reason we will also look individually at pedestrian accidents, and bicycle accidents for the same periods in order that we can all see the raw data.

Inferior Vena Cava - IVC - Filter Lawsuit Attorney Dean Goetz

Dean A. Goetz

San Diego Personal Injury Attorney

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