Shaniece Holmes-Brown reports in the Times Union that the number of deaths from motorcycle crashes in New York increased by 35 percent from 2019 to 2020, according to the state Department of Motor Vehicle. “Despite fewer vehicles on the road last year, we saw a startling increase in deadly motorcycle crashes and every life lost was someone’s loved one,” DMV Commissioner Mark J.F. Schroeder said in a written statement. Officials said one explanation for the increase in motorcycle fatalities is that more people bought motorcycles during the pandemic, state officials said. “I think the pandemic made people look a little bit more at outside activities. People wanted to be more outside-oriented because anything that was happening indoors got canceled,” said State Police Trooper Ian DeGiovine. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said “driving patterns and behaviors" changed last year and "drivers who remained on the roads engaged in more risky behavior, including speeding, failing to wear seat belts, and driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.” Read more about this story in the Times Union.