Motorcyclist Deaths Up In Minnesota

ST. PAUL  (AP) - Minnesota traffic safety officials say motorcyclist deaths are up compared with this time a year ago.

At least 22 motorcyclists have been killed on Minnesota roads so far in 2011, according to preliminary figures from the Department of Public Safety's Office of Traffic Safety.

That's a nearly 30 percent increase from the 17 motorcycle deaths at this time in 2010.

A total of 45 motorcyclists died in Minnesota in 2010, a 15 percent drop from 53 in 2009.

Officials are concerned about this year's trend because August and September are typically high-traffic and high-fatality months for motorcyclists.

There are more than 229,000 registered bikes in Minnesota.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)