Rhode Island Among Deadliest States For Gen Z Fatal Motorcycle Wrecks: Study

A motorcyclist aged 15 to 24 dies every 10 hours, according to the study.

By Joseph Hosey, Patch Staff

Apr 8, 2026 6:07 pm EDT | Updated Apr 9, 2026 12:16 pm EDT

Rhode Island is among the deadliest states in America when it comes to Generation Z fatal motorcycle wrecks, a recent study revealed.

The study, conducted by Stanley Law Offices personal injury, workers' comp and social security disability firm, analyzed National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Fatality Analysis Reporting System and U.S. Census Bureau data, according to a media release accompanying the results.

Examining motorcyclist fatalities among motorcyclists between ages 15 and 24 from 2019–2023, the study calculated five-year average annual death rates per 100,000 residents in this age group across all 50 states.

"A motorcycle ride should be a rite of passage, not a death sentence," the release said.

"Yet 863 young Americans aged 15 to 24 die on motorcycles every year, one life lost every 10 hours," according to the release. "The cruelest twist? Where you live determines whether you survive."

Rhode Island placed seventh when it came to deadliest states with 7.86 deaths per 100,000 residents and 11.6 annual deaths.

Delaware was the deadliest state in America with 37.7 Gen Z motorcycle fatalities per 100,000 residents and 45.8 annually.

"These numbers represent more than statistics; they represent young lives cut short and families forever changed," an unnamed Stanley Law Offices spokesperson said in the release.

"The dramatic variation between states suggests that policy choices, infrastructure investments, and safety education programs can make a real difference," the spokesperson said. "Every state should examine what the safest states are doing right."