State of Louisiana
SCOHTS Safety Management Subcommittee Report
August 2012
Louisiana remains committed to achieving the ultimate goal of reaching Destination Zero Deaths. In
2012, we completed the process of updating the Louisiana Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP). The
interim goal of the plan is to reduce fatalities by a minimum of 50 percent by 2030 through focused
efforts in the four emphasis areas:




Alcohol-Related Driving
Infrastructure and Operations
Crashes Involving Young Drivers
Occupant Protection
Actual vs Target Fatality Counts
2005
1100
987
900
993
2015
2020
2025
2030
1100
965
916
845
900
824
724
721
677
700
Fatality Count
2010
700
603
Actual
483
500
500
Target
Linear (Target)
300
300
100
100
-100
2005
2010
2015
2020
Year
2025
2030
-100
We continue to work towards decreasing the trend of traffic-related fatalities and injuries through the
full implementation of the SHSP (towards zero fatalities and injuries). Our approach is multidisciplinary and actively involves the 4Es of safety – engineering, enforcement, education, and
emergency response.
The Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) has been moving forward with safety
improvements in roadway infrastructure as well as providing funds to assist our partners from the
Highway Safety Commission with their work on unbelted fatalities and serious injuries. Some of
Louisiana’s accomplishments include: a Complete Streets policy, Roadway Departure and Intersection
Improvements, working with Louisiana State Police (LSP) to use crash data to focus enforcement for
DWI and Seatbelt checkpoints, working with Louisiana Highway Safety Commission (LHSC) to help
support overtime enforcement of occupant protection initiatives, and No Refusal Weekends Programs.
Each Fiscal Year Louisiana dedicates $3-$5 million to the Local Road Safety Program. Some projects
included: pavement markings, signage, and curve realignment. The Department let to contract 51 safety
projects at a cost of $45.2 million in Fiscal Year 2011. Some of these projects included the installation
of cable median barriers, striping, turn lanes, roundabouts, guard rail installation, intersection
improvement, improving pavement friction and curve realignments. Louisiana implemented a new
policy to address low-cost safety improvements as part of the Pavement Preservation Program. The
policy requires review and analysis of crash history to identify abnormal crashes and overrepresented
crash types. If the crash analysis indicates an abnormal history or overrepresentation of crash types, the
state conducts a Road Safety Assessment to identify opportunities for implementing low-cost safety
improvements.
Statewide Accomplishments:

Crash-related fatalities decreased 27% through the implementation of selective DWI and seatbelt
checkpoints and enforcement; we have increased seat belt use and reduced drunk driving.

Young driver involved fatalities dropped by 34%

Alcohol-related fatalities dropped by 30%, but still 43% of all fatalities are alcohol related.

Louisiana State Police conducted the TACT (Ticketing Aggressive Cars and Trucks) program,
which involves stopping unsafe driving behavior by passenger vehicles and commercial motor
vehicles, including speeding, unsafe lane changes, and following too closely.

Louisiana has implemented No Refusal programs to prevent impaired driving.

Louisiana State Police Troop Commands use detailed statistics to identify problem locations on
state roadways. The data reveals age of occupants killed in fatal crashes, and the manner of
collision. Along with citizens’ complaints, these data direct the deployment of Louisiana State
Police Traffic Program assets, such as motorcycle patrols, airplane assisted speed details, and
grant-funded overtime enforcement. Troop commanders also deploy task forces in fully marked
police cruisers to saturate these areas and provide highly visible enforcement presence.
Louisiana’s renewed energy and focus on traffic safety has helped us make tremendous improvements in
reducing the number of deaths and serious injuries. Our approach is to continue implementing projects
and programs through our statewide emphasis area teams.
We will also be working to implement
projects and programs at the local level through regional safety coalitions. Presently, we have four
coalitions up and running in the New Orleans, Northshore, Houma and Lafayette/Acadiana regions.
These regional coalitions are developing their own regional strategic and action plans based on the
problems and concerns identified in their area.