As the popularity of motorcycles rises, so has the number of motorcycle crashes. According to preliminary figures from MNDOT, the number of motorcycle crashes in Minnesota hit a 17-year high last year.
The figures also show a low rate of helmet use, which is not required in Minnesota. Nearly two thirds of people injured in motorcycle crashes last year were not wearing a helmet.
High gas prices are one factor driving the surge in motorcycle use, but middle-aged people trying to recapture the thrills of youth are another factor. Of the 61 people killed in motorcycle crashes in Minnesota last year, nearly half were between the ages of 45 and 60.