Motorcycle fatalities have jumped 60% since 2018, and 2024 was Colorado’s deadliest year ever for motorcyclists, according to a report from the Common Sense Institute.

Meanwhile, passenger vehicle deaths decreased by 7% and traffic enforcement has dropped 54%.

In 2024, 165 motorcyclists died on Colorado’s roads, the highest number in the state’s history. Motorcycle deaths account for 24% of all traffic deaths, even though motorcycles are only 3% of the motor vehicle fleet. Moreover, 44% of the motorcyclists killed in traffic crashes were not wearing a helmet, according to the Colorado State Patrol.

“Between 2018 and 2024, motorcycle registrations declined by 8.9% statewide, from 194,847 to 177,511, despite the driving-age population growing by 6.4% during the same period,” said the CSI report. “This divergence suggests an increase in unregistered motorcycles operating on Colorado roads. If motorcycle registrations statewide had kept pace with the 6.4% increase in Colorado’s driving age population, there would’ve been an estimated 30,000 more registered motorcycles in the state in 2024.”

The institute also notes a 54% decrease in traffic enforcement from 159,000 traffic stops to just 72,800 in the same period.

Cities and towns have deliberately de-emphasized traffic stops as part of broader policing reforms. In Denver, the city has redirected resources toward addressing violent crime and property offenses, leaving fewer officers available for traffic enforcement duties, said the report.

“The consequences of this enforcement vacuum may be significant,” said the report. “With traffic violations less likely to result in penalties, the deterrent effect that traditionally discouraged reckless driving has weakened substantially.”

Street racing and speeding pose significant risks to both motorcyclists and others, and some law enforcement agencies are taking reckless driving very seriously.

On Monday, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office arrested Brandon Watts, 40, of Denver, on charges of felony eluding, being a habitual traffic offender, no insurance, unregistered vehicle, obstruction, reckless driving and several open arrest warrants after a pursuit on University Boulevard, according to a news release.

The release added that vehicle forfeiture is being initiated to seize the unregistered motorcycle.

“The rise in motorcycle-related fatalities is a growing concern, both locally and across the state. Many of these tragic incidents are preventable and often involve excessive speeds, reckless behavior, or the false belief that motorcyclists can evade law enforcement without consequence,” said Sheriff Darren M. Weekly in a statement to The Denver Gazette. “We want riders to understand that while we will always prioritize public safety in our enforcement efforts, our greater goal is to prevent these crashes before they happen.”

According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Colorado was the 12th-highest state across the country in 2022 for the total number of motorcycle deaths, said the Colorado Department of Transportation.

“Wearing a helmet and riding within your limits are the best ways to prevent serious injury or death in a crash,” said Col. Matthew C. Packard, chief of the Colorado State Patrol. “As you hit the road this summer, it’s imperative to gear up and practice skills before riding in live traffic or taking a scenic drive. Motorists should also remember to look twice and give motorcyclists extra space. In a collision with a car, they will always be on the losing side.”