Traveling through Indiana, many motorcycling enthusiasts enjoy the freedom and camaraderie of riding independently or in organized groups. Yet, these same Midwest roads and other factors create conditions that threaten motorcyclists’ safety.
In 2020, the Indiana University Public Policy Institute released a publication of Indiana Crash Facts, which included an analysis of motorcyclists involved in Indiana collisions.
Counties with the most accidents
Marion County, home to Indianapolis, ranked the highest in motorcycle collisions. In 2020, 390 motorcyclists experienced collisions in this county, due in part to the large population and city traffic issues. The following counties had the highest number of motorcycle accidents in 2020:
- Marion – 390
- Allen – 160
- Joseph – 124
- Elkhart – 119
- Lake – 117
- Vanderburgh – 89
- Tippecanoe – 81
- Hamilton – 77
- Porter – 72
- Johnson – 67
- Madison – 66
Counties with the highest number of collisions per 1,000 persons
The Indiana Crash Facts 2020 also analyzed motorcyclists in Indiana collisions per 1,000 individuals involved in collisions. Brown County took the top spot at 68.3 motorcyclists per 1,000 individuals in collisions. Similarly, the following counties also ranked highly in this analysis:
- Benton – 20.4
- Brown – 68.3
- Carroll – 19.1
- Crawford – 23.4
- Daviess – 18.5
- Fountain – 20.9
- Fulton – 23.9
- Jay – 17.8
- LaGrange – 17.4
- Lawrence – 23.6
- Martin – 21.1
- Montgomery – 18.2
- Noble – 25.1
- Orange – 17.5
- Perry – 25.4
- Pike – 34.9
- Pulaski – 21.1
- Starke – 21.5
- Switzerland – 50.8
- Vermillion – 19.7
- Wabash – 19.8
- Warren – 33.5
- Washington – 26.0
Knowing these county statistics may help motorcyclists feel better prepared during their rides across Indiana and adjust their driving habits and reaction times accordingly.