Police patrolling dangerous stretch of FM 2222 in west Austin
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin is known for its rolling hills and beautiful overlooks, especially in west Austin along FM 2222.
It's a windy road, and people who live off 2222 are worried about their safety as some motorists are taking a dangerous joy ride.
"As a preface to my remarks, since we're going to talk about motorcycles, my wife and I both rode motorcycles into our late 60s, and we lived here on 2222 for the past 34 years," said Tom Rogers, whose wife Lisa reached out to KXAN about their concerns.
to conduct 'targeted traffic enforcement' at west Austin intersection
They shared a video with us of multiple motorcycle riders speeding on 2222 and running through the red light at Dry Creek Drive.
"During the pandemic, we started getting groups, 2, 3, 4, 5 and as many as 10, racing up and down 2222. And while it's a sound issue for many of the people who have complained in the neighborhood, it's also a safety issue, in my opinion, for the people driving on 2222," said Rogers.
He's concerned social media is playing a role in motivating the motorcycle riders to break laws. Using a quick search on YouTube, it wasn't hard to find video of the dangerous driving on 2222.
In 2023, there was one deadly motorcycle crash on 2222, and in a similar location in 2019, University of Texas football legend Cedric Benson and his passenger Aamna Najam, died in a fiery motorcycle crash in the 5600 block of FM 2222.
"Oh yeah, it's not unusual when I drive out to play golf in the morning to see motorcycle parts scattered along the turns of 2222, and you can see if there was a motorcycle accident sometime during the previous evening or previous day. Nobody was reported injured or killed, but the parts are all over 2222. It's dangerous and it's a concern to a lot of us who live here along 2222 where we drive it every day, and you have to be careful when you pull under 2222 that you don't meet some oncoming motorcycles who are going to run the red light," Rogers said.
Austin Police have heard their concerns too after hearing multiple complaints from people who live nearby. This week, APD announced it's stepping up patrols , enforcing traffic laws and targeting motorists who drive aggressively, speed and break laws on 2222 between MoPac and 360.
"We're very hopeful. And I think the litmus test will be, what does it look like tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday? Which are the big days for the motorcycles to ride on 2222," said Rogers.
