With most Louisiana public and private schools reopening in August, thousands of families will be loading their cars and heading to favorite vacation spots for their final summer flings. The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission reminds drivers and passengers that most serious vehicle crashes are preventable.
Research shows that about 85 percent of crashes in which a driver is killed involve one of three factors: impaired driving, lack of seat belt use and aggressive driving. Aggressive driving includes a variety of behaviors, such as speeding, distracted driving, tailgating and running red lights. Some crashes involve two or three of these factors.
"While great advancements have been made in the design of safer vehicles and roads, these improvements can be defeated by unsafe driving behavior," said Lt. Col. John LeBlanc, executive director of the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission. "It takes only a few seconds to buckle up, yet more than 60 percent of people killed in crashes in Louisiana were not wearing their seat belts."
Distracted driving is a growing concern among highway safety professionals. The U.S. Department of Transportation refers to driver distractions as an "epidemic." Statistics show that distracted driving was a factor in approximately one in every 10 fatalities on the nation's roadways.
Louisiana law prohibits all drivers, regardless of age, from texting or interacting with social media sites while driving. Additionally, drivers under 18 may not use any wireless device - including cell phones and computers - while operating a motor vehicle.
Parents and guardians are also urged to pay extra attention to their teenagers' driving during the final days before schools reopen.
"Young drivers have less experience behind the wheel, and some are more prone to engage in risky driving behaviors," LeBlanc said. "It's no secret that teens can often find a way to obtain and consume alcohol. Close parental supervision is critical to helping them understand that impaired driving is both illegal and very dangerous."