Idaho transportation leaders spotlight motorcycle deaths

“Mostly what we’re seeing is riders riding above their skill level, also complacency,” Nakashima said. “When you’re riding a motorcycle, it’s probably just a good idea to ride as if you’re invisible — assume that cars can’t see you.”

According to 2024 ITD data, there were 629 motorcycle-related crashes and deaths on Idaho roads. This includes 47 fatalities that represent a 17.5% increase from 2023. Of these crashes, 86% of motorcyclists were injured and 35% of fatal motorcycle crashes involved an impaired rider.

Josephine Middleton, the Idaho Transportation Department’s highway safety manager, said as of Monday there have been 66 lives lost on Idaho roads this year, a value significantly lower compared to this time last year that Middleton noted may be influenced by high gas prices directly impacting the number of trips taken.

Though gas prices are discouraging trips for some, Sunshine Beer, director of the Idaho Skills Training Advantage for Riders (STAR) Motorcycle Safety Program, said motorcyclists are hitting the road earlier with the sparse winter observed in the first quarter of the year.

Lane Triplett, a member of the Motorcycle Safety Task Force of Idaho (MSTF), said he has used his role to review each motorcycle fatality in the state since 2009 and the myriad ways motorcyclists have lost their lives on Idaho’s roads and highways.

“Animal, road hazards, mechanical issues — all those really pale to rider error itself,” Triplett said. Triplett said his review of fatal crashes has consistently shown about 70% of fatal motorcycle crashes in Idaho have been the fault of motorcyclists while 20% of crashes were the fault of other vehicles. The remaining 10% is spread across various other environmental and vehicular variables.

Of the fatal crashes resulting from rider error, Triplett said about 30% stem from failing to navigate a corner. He said alcohol impairment, an issue observed nationwide, is also a major factor. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that 40% of riders who died in single-vehicle crashes across the country in 2024 were impaired by alcohol.