Louisiana is observing National Teen Driver Safety Week this week as state police and others try to get the message through about the causes of crashes that left 95 teens dead last year in the state and more than 82-hundred others injured.
“While we are seeing more seatbelt usage, it’s more common to see kids use their seatbelts which is a great thing, we’re still seeing some deaths out there, and unfortunately some of it has to do with underage drinking and impairment behind the wheel,” according to Trooper Thomas Gossen.
Gossen says the “Sudden Impact” program, created over 20 years ago, has troopers teaming up with medical officials to help address the problem of teens being killed or injured in crashes.
“We’ve partnered with University Medical Center and we do a “Sudden Impact” program, it’s called, and it really highlights the poor decisions that are made behind the wheel and the consequences that come with making that poor decision,” said Gossen
Trooper Gossen says there is a small laundry list of driving mistakes that contribute to the teen crashes and the disturbing toll they’ve taken in Louisiana. He says it’s “the alcohol usage, no seatbelt usage, distracted driving,” noting that cellphones are such a big part of a teen’s life right now.
Gossen says the risk of motor vehicle crashes is highest among 16 to 19-year-olds of what police say are unexpected, permanent and preventable tragedies.
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