(photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)
The number of people killed on Louisiana roads has dropped to its lowest level in five years. Last year, 753 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes, which is a 7% drop from 2023. Mark Lambert with the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission attributed the lower number to people wearing their seatbelts more than ever.
“You keep giving the message out about drinking and driving and wearing your seatbelt. And we know, through observational surveys, that more people are wearing their seatbelts right now than ever before. We just hit a record high,” Lambert said.
In 2024, 261 people who were not wearing seatbelts were killed in crashes, compared to 302 in 2023. Lambert stated that drivers can do all the things necessary to be safe drivers, but they cannot control what others do on the road, which is why he says wearing a seatbelt is so important.
“You can drive only when you’re sober, follow the speed limit, don’t drive distracted, but you cannot control what another driver does. And that’s why it’s so important to wear your seatbelt,” Lambert said.
DWI arrests also increased by 4%, with law enforcement officers arresting almost 14,000 people last year. Lambert says that increased law enforcement is also helping keep the roads safer.
“Our law enforcement partners are out there. They’re looking for drunk drivers and when they see them, they arrest them. And the important thing about that is, you get them off the street before they can do any damage,” Lambert said.
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