Minnesota motorcycle fatalities hit a 38-year high in 2022, and this year is shaping up nearly as deadly.
Twenty-eight motorcyclists or their passengers had died in crashes this year as of last Tuesday, according to the state Department of Public Safety. That's a number just slightly behind the pace set in 2022, when the state recorded 82 deaths — the most since 1985.
Impairment, distracted driving and speeding are among the factors contributing to the high death toll, said Jay Bock, safety coordinator for the Minnesota Motorcycle Safety Center.
Lack of skill, particularly when navigating curves or attempting to avoid road hazards, is another big factor, he said.
"Motorcyclists need to know how to stop the motorcycle," Bock said. "They need to know how to lean the bike and how to ride through curves. A lot of the issues are a rider's skill set, and exceeding that can spell trouble quickly."
The center is offering training courses this year, as it has since the 1980s, at 22 colleges and technical schools across the state. Weekend courses are offered for riders of all abilities, from novice to expert; motorcycles are provided.
"Training is not just for beginners," said Erin Johnson, a Department of Public Safety spokeswoman. "It's to keep you sharp throughout your life."
Bock said safety begins with the proper gear: gloves, pants, reflective vests, protective eyewear and helmets. Two-thirds of the riders killed last year in Minnesota were not wearing a helmet, state crash data shows.