Motorcyclist Deaths Fell to 194 on Arizona Roads in 2025, ADOT Data Shows

Motorcyclists accounted for 194 of the 1,156 traffic deaths on Arizona roads in 2025, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) — about 17% of all fatalities. The figure is down 11% from 218 motorcyclist deaths in 2024, part of a third straight annual decline in total traffic deaths in the state.

What ADOT reported

ADOT released its 2025 crash data on August 27, 2026. The agency counted 1,156 total traffic fatalities, a 5.2% decrease from 2024, across 118,052 crashes, down 4.4% from 123,535 the year before. Within that total, it reported 194 motorcyclist fatalities, compared with 218 in 2024.

By our arithmetic from ADOT's numbers, 194 deaths is a drop of 24, or roughly 11%, and motorcyclists made up about 16.8% of all 2025 traffic fatalities. ADOT's release does not state that share itself, so treat it as our calculation.

What the release does not say

The release gives the 2025 motorcyclist death count and the year-over-year change. It does not break the 194 deaths down by cause, county, time of day, rider age, or whether the rider was wearing a helmet. It also does not report a motorcyclist injury count. We are not drawing conclusions about those details, and readers should not infer them from the headline number.

The motorcyclist figure and the contributing-factor figures overlap, so they should not be added together. A single crash can fall into several categories.

The wider picture

The decline in motorcyclist deaths came alongside improvements in several other measures. ADOT reported that deaths involving failure to use a safety device, which covers seat belts and helmets, fell to 320 in 2025 from 347 in 2024. Alcohol-impairment deaths fell to 334 from 376. Speeding was a factor in 367 deaths. We have covered those in more detail in our reports on safety device non-use and the statewide totals.

Even with the decrease, the numbers remain high. ADOT Director Jennifer Toth said in the release: "Fewer fatalities on Arizona's roadways is a move in the right direction, but even one death is one too many."

Helmet rules in Arizona

Arizona's helmet law is narrow. Under A.R.S. § 28-964, operators and passengers under 18 must wear a protective helmet when riding a motorcycle, and the statute does not impose the same requirement on adults. ADOT's safety device category combines seat belts and helmets, so the 320 deaths in that category do not isolate motorcycle helmet use.

What changes in 2026

Rules for motorcyclists are also shifting this year. We reported on a new Arizona law that reclassifies motorcycle lane splitting as reckless driving, effective mid-September 2026 according to that report. Because the 2025 data predates that law, ADOT's numbers say nothing about its effect.

If you or someone you know is hurt in a motorcycle crash

Call 911, make sure police document the scene, seek medical care promptly, and keep records of the crash, treatment and any lost income. Deadlines and rights depend on the facts, so consider consulting a licensed Arizona attorney. This article is news reporting and is not legal advice.

Sources: Arizona Department of Transportation, "Traffic fatalities on Arizona roads decline for third year in a row", released August 27, 2026; A.R.S. § 28-964, azleg.gov.