MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WMBF) – South Carolina teens who ride motorcycles face one of the highest death rates in the country.
South Carolina averages 13 teen motorcycle deaths annually, with a fatality rate of 3.93 per 100,000 teens, 42% higher than the national average.
The Palmetto State rounds out the top 10 deadliest for young riders. The data comes from NHTSA fatality data and U.S. Census figures from 2019 to 2023.
Among its 330,824 residents aged 15 to 19, South Carolina’s warm climate and extended riding season elevate year-round risk.
Florida leads the nation with 6.20 average annual fatalities per 100,000 teens, followed by Arizona at 5.42 and New Mexico at 5.36.
Delaware ranks fourth at 5.12, Missouri fifth at 4.33, and Nebraska sixth at 4.25.
Montana comes in seventh at 4.10, Tennessee eighth at 4.03, and Colorado ninth at 3.94. South Carolina rounds out the top 10 at 3.93.
Alex Edgar, who has owned Armadillo Cycles for 17 years, said there are steps riders can take to stay safer on the road.
He pointed to safety courses, including programs at Georgetown Campus, the local Harley dealer, and the Motorcycle Safety Foundation.
“It’s basically like a driver’s ed school,” Edgar said. “They teach you a lot of basics and a lot of stuff. I took one when I was 16 years old, when I started. I’m 44 now, so it’s a big help. That’s something I would highly recommend that parents have their kids look into. My father made me take it, or else I wasn’t getting on a bike. That was part of the rules.”
Even with precautions, risk can never be fully eliminated.
“So, there’s been a handful of customers that we’ve seen in and out. A couple of years we probably lose, and it’s really, really unfortunate because a lot of people, they’ve got families and children and everything else,” Edgar said. “A lot of times it’s not even their fault. It kind of unfortunately comes with the territory.”
Edgar said riders shouldn’t be afraid to get on a bike as long as they never skip the basics: training, precautions, and staying aware.
“I used to ride with my father as a teenager,” Edgar said. “Some of the best memories I’ve had. But he also taught me safety and awareness, and we rode together a lot early on, and that’s kind of what made me learn a lot of stuff and really enjoy the sport.”
South Carolina law requires all riders under 21 to wear a helmet. Edgar said even if you’re an adult, it’s a smart call.
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