< Back to All Insights

We Support the Push for Zero Deaths on Louisiana Roads

Tony Tramontana

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.

Destination Zero Deaths offers methods for law enforcement and others to positively impact the state’s transportation system. The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, Louisiana Highway Safety Commission and Louisiana State Police are all involved in the effort, part of the Louisiana Strategic Highway Safety Plan.

Lake Ponchartrain Causeway Bridge - dangerousroads.org

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.

An Ambitious Goal

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.

Developing Regional Plans

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.

Changing the Culture

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.

Know what to Do in an Auto Accident

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.

Contact Us


<   Back to All Articles

Related Posts

Driving Laws for Elderly Drivers in Louisiana

In the United States in 2014, an estimated 221,000 people, age 65 and older, were injured in motor vehicle accidents and 5,709 were killed. These elderly people comprised 17% of the total traffic-related fatalities that year and 9% of traffic-related injuries. A year later, 4,366 people, age 70 and older, were killed in motor vehicle accidents, which is a […]

Read More
Louisiana's Poor Road Conditions Might Be Causing Car Crashes

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 […]

Read More
Civilians May Be Investigating Louisiana Auto Accidents Soon

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 […]

Read More
Child Passenger Safety & Restraint Use: a State-by-State Analysis

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 […]

Read More
Louisiana Accident Laws and How They Differ from Other States

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 […]

Read More
A Campaign to Reduce Fatal Accidents in Louisiana

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 […]

Read More
US 90 Through South Louisiana is Named State's Most Dangerous Highway

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 […]

Read More
New Study Says Louisiana is Stressed Out

Louisiana certainly has its share of leisure and entertainment activities, and it is well-known for its live music and street festivals. However, a new study shows that people who live in the state are generally stressed out. WalletHub recently ranked all U.S. states according to a stress survey it created, which compiled results and gave […]

Read More
The 10 Most Dangerous States to Drive In

Even though fatal car crashes in the United States have decreased in number, traffic collisions remain a grave problem. It’s a promising sign that there were approximately 10,000 fewer accidents in 2014 than in 2004, but 32,675 people were still killed in auto accidents. The Most Dangerous States Baed on Fatalities Even though fatal car […]

Read More
Bicycle Laws in Louisiana: What Cyclists Need to Know

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 […]

Read More

Questions?

Every case is unique. We want to hear from you about your medical malpractice or personal injury case.
Contact Us
© 2024 All Rights Reserved – J. Antonio Tramontana – Personal Injury Attorney
Privacy Policy
crossmenucross-circle linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram