What if no one died in auto accidents in Louisiana? That’s the goal of an ambitious new statewide initiative, and it’s one that Attorney J. Antonio Tramontana fully supports.
Louisiana has embraced the “Toward Zero Deaths” initiative, which aims to eliminate traffic fatalities through data‑driven strategies. The state’s 2023 data—799 fatalities and a seat‑belt‑use rate of 88.4%—show progress but leave room for improvement. Programs targeting impaired driving, speeding and distracted driving have produced notable declines in drunk‑driving deaths.
To reach zero, Louisiana will need continued investment in road design, enforcement technology and public education.
Individuals can contribute by committing to sober driving, obeying speed limits and encouraging friends and family to do the same.
The strategic plan is a "comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach" to lessening the tragic consequences of fatalities and injuries related to devastating automobile accidents on Louisiana’s highways. A website and Facebook page are devoted to the effort, and citizens are encouraged to spread the word.
A spokesman for LADOTD said the plan’s Zero Deaths goal is ambitious but is worth pursuing, and Attorney Tramontana agrees. In 2014, according to the State Police, 740 people died on roadways statewide, and 73 fatalities occurred in the northwest northeast region of our state. Total fatalities are down from 987 in 2006, but remain too high.
Between 2009 and 2013, the leading cause of death on Louisiana’s northwest northeast region highways was roadway departure. Failure to wear seat belts and driving under the influence of alcohol also caused fatalities.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that over the past decade, fatalities related to people driving under the influence of alcohol have dropped by 27 percent, and the numbers continue to decrease. Nationally, the rate of fatalities that involved alcohol-impaired drivers decreased from 0.34 per 100 million vehicle miles traveled in 2013 to 0.33 in 2014.
Another positive indicator at the national level is that seat belt use is up slightly, from 86 percent in 2012 to 87 percent in 2013, the NHTSA reports.
In Louisiana, the Strategic Highway Safety Plan includes strategies for all levels of government — local, regional and statewide. Nine regional safety coalitions are charged with working in cooperation with a number of entities and groups that have an interest in roadway safety, including emergency medical services, education, engineering and law enforcement. The coalitions and their community partners will develop regional safety plans using the state plan as a guide.
Each of the regional plans will look at accident-related issues that directly affect the specific region. Areas of focus will include impaired driving, infrastructure operations, protection of vehicle occupants, and younger drivers. Among drivers ages 15 to 24, the primary issues related to safety are risk-taking behaviors, immaturity and lack of experience behind the wheel, the NHTSA reports.
Louisiana initiative leaders note that reducing roadway fatalities across the state will require the involvement of multiple agencies and interested parties. Law enforcement cannot solve the problem alone.
One component of the Zero Deaths initiative is slashing the number of roadway fatalities in half by 2030. To meet that ambitious goal, the regional groups will look at crash data and will identify strategies that can reduce the numbers. They also will develop and implement action plans toward the goal.
Maj. Carl Saizan with the Louisiana State Police said that the state is in the midst of a culture change regarding automobile accidents and that change will require significant time, energy, and local involvement. Some measures are already in place and are making a difference, he said.
In the coming years, the Destination Zero Deaths initiative should reduce highway fatalities — and, with cooperation and vigilance by the public, may even eliminate them. In the meantime, if you’re in an accident, it’s important to know what to do. Immediately afterward, stay at the scene until law enforcement officers arrive, ensure that anyone involved gets medical treatment, and collect all the information you can about the accident.
If you’re injured in an accident, you should contact an experienced Monroe automobile accident attorney to learn about your rights. Your attorney also will assist you in securing the compensation you’re due from the insurance company and the at-fault party for your injuries and damage to your vehicle. To consult with an attorney now, contact J. Antonio Tramontana, Attorney at Law, at 318-340-1515.
America’s population is aging, and senior drivers face unique risks on the road. The NationalHighway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) 2023 fact sheet reports that 7,891 people aged65 and over were killed in traffic crashes, accounting for 19% of all traffic fatalities. Theolder‑population fatality rate dropped slightly to 13.32 deaths per 100,000 population (a 5%decrease from […]
Drivers all over the state of Louisiana are facing high costs when it comes to operating their vehicles, and poor road conditions might be the most harrowing. A recent article in The Greater Baton Rouge Business Report stated how bad the road conditions actually are in Baton Rouge, and there’s evidence of major road troubles […]
If you find yourself in a future fender bender in New Orleans, don’t be surprised if a civilian is the one investigating it. The city recently green-lighted a plan for common folk and possibly retired police officers, under the management of a New-Orleans based “civil traffic accident investigation and support” firm, to be given contracts […]
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for a child passenger in the United States. Child safety seats are required in every state because they’re proven to maximize safety for a child passenger in the event of a car accident. Using a car […]
If you were injured in an auto accident in Louisiana, your personal injury case is subject to a different set of rules than had you been in another state. Louisiana is a direct action state, which means parties injured in a car accident can name an insurance carrier in a lawsuit. This is not something […]
From 2014 to 2016, more than 90 people were involved in fatal accidents in Tangipahoa Parish. That statistic, according to a campaigner working to reduce the number of avoidable deaths, is too many, and indicates that change is needed in Louisianans’ driving habits. Donna Miller, Tangipahoa Parish President Robby Miller’s wife, is a local businesswoman […]
A recent study has identified US 90 running through South Louisiana as the most dangerous highway in the entire state, also reportedly the 13th most dangerous highway in the country. A recent study has identified US 90 running through South Louisiana as the most dangerous highway in the entire state, also reportedly the 13th most […]
WalletHub’s 2025 “Most & Least Stressed States” report ranked Louisiana the third most stressed state in the nation. The state scored 56.21 points overall; its stress ranks were 15th for work‑related stress, 2nd for money‑related stress, 5th for family stress, and 7th for health & safety stress. Only New Mexico and Nevada ranked higher. High […]
Louisiana is making progress toward safer roads, but challenges remain. A 2023 crash‑statistics report found 799 traffic fatalities in Louisiana, down from 907 in 2022 and 997 in 2021. Interstate‑related deaths declined by 11.9%, and drunk‑driver deaths fell 27.9%. A separate 2025 analysis of U.S. Highway 90—often called the state’s deadliest road—shows it averages about […]
Riding a bike, especially on public roadways, is about more than learning to balance on two wheels: it’s something that drivers, as well as cyclists, must take seriously or risk injury or even death. To stay safe on shared roadways in Louisiana, cyclists should become fluent in the state’s bicycle laws to minimize risk to […]
