Auburn,IN : Motorcycle crashes are safety reminder on April, Friday 27th 2018

A fatal motorcycle crash in Fort Wayne involved a Ligonier man on April 27.

A man lost control of his Harley this week on Angling Road.a

Another man crashed his motorcycle, also this week, injuring both of his legs in DeKalb County.


A fourth man died in a motorcycle crash in DeKalb County this week.

It’s that time of year and area police officers — who are motorcycle riders themselves — have some advice for fellow riders and other vehicle operators when it comes to motorcycle safety.

For Albion Town Marshal Tom Lock and Kendallville Patrolman Doug Davis, it boils down to being aware of what is going on around you.

“Be very vigilant for obstructions and hazards,” Davis said. “You have to be on your A-game the entire time.”

“You have to be aware of your surroundings at all times,” Lock said.

People aware of their surroundings can be in short supply.

With U.S. 6 closed for Brimfield Bridge replacement, Lock parks his marked police car on North Orange Street to slow down motorists heading into town. When that doesn’t help, he activates his car’s emergency lights as he parks.

For some people, the marked police car isn’t enough of a deterrent — he needs to use the flashing red and blue lights to get people’s attention.

“Nobody’s paying attention any more,” Lock said. “You’ve got to be focused on driving the vehicle and nothing else.”

Along with vigilance, Lock recommends that drivers get properly trained to operate a motorcycle. He said the ABATE (American Bikers Aimed Toward Education) courses that are held in the area go beyond being beneficial.

“The ABATE class was the best I’ve ever taken,” Lock said.

Davis said the ABATE course taught him to go through a checklist before he even gets on his motorcycle. He checks his tires for bulges and low pressure, then verifies that his lights are functioning properly and the motorcycle is not leaking fluids.

Once mounted on the bike, he double checks his clutch, brake and throttle. Adjusting mirrors to take advantage of maximum visibility is another must, he said.

Even before approaching the bike, Davis and Lock said people need to be properly geared up, with a leather coat, leather riding chaps, boots and gloves to ensure proper grip on the throttle and handlebars.

At night, Davis said riders should wear something that reflects the light and, in the daytime, riders should have on bright clothing.

Source :
Motorcycle crashes are safety reminder