MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) – After a deadly crash this month claimed the lives of two motorcyclists, some residents are speaking out to bring awareness to safety.
Three people, including a Mobile firefighter, died after a crash on Highway 158 when a Mustang collided head-on with several motorcyclists.
3 people killed when car collides with 4 motorcycles
One man FOX10 News spoke with says harsher punishments need to be in place to enforce safer driving.
Freddy Wheeler says he’s taking his concerns to the Mobile City Council.
Wheeler has signed up to speak before the council on Tuesday to promote motorcycle safety and driver awareness.
Wheeler says at one point there was a program in Mobile teaching safety, but that it was taken away.
“It’s time for the city to step up and start making the people really aware of motorcyclists,” he said.
For almost two decades, Wheeler has been a member of Dixie Abate of Alabama.
Abate stands for American Bikers Aimed Towards Education.
It’s a group that advocates for motorcyclists across the state to promote safety.
…and he’s not alone in the fight.
Last week, several people stood along Highway 158 urging drivers with signs to watch for motorcycles, just feet away from a deadly crash.
Rally on Highway 158 urges drivers to watch for motorcycles
On April 13, three people died after a Mustang collided head-on with four motorcycles.
The crash killed Elizabeth Hearn, Kristopher Dotson, and Mobile Firefighter Marcine Crawford.
Wheeler fears drivers aren’t being cautious enough because of a lack of punishment.
“It’s illegal to take and intrude on the right of way of an oncoming vehicle, but there’s no teeth in that,” Wheeler said. “So that’s something else that we’ll be looking at going into the future, changing the law. I would like to see it become a felony assault with a vehicle.”
Wheeler says there used to be an area in Mobile that offered motorcycle safety, but he says it was taken away.
“State recently pulled the training area that was used down here for motorcycle safety program from AIDT,” he said. “And I’ve been looking now for several months trying to find a parking lot area that’s 200×300, and I feel like the city owes it to the motorcyclists in the area.”
Wheeler feels harsher punishments should be in place.
“Most often, it’s distracted drivers that are killing motorcyclists, so I don’t know the full report on the gentleman that died but rest assured that there’s probably something about distracted driving,” he said.
Wheeler also wanted to remind the public that May is motorcycle awareness month.
He says it’s a year-round job to drive safely.
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