The Labor Day holiday weekend is one of the busiest travel periods as the summer season is ending. The resulting increase in traffic volume often leads to more crashes. Motorists should remain attentive to their surroundings, exercise patience, show courtesy to other motorists, and limit distractions inside the vehicle. These are behaviors that can make highway travel safer for all of us.
"If there is ever a time to make safety a priority, it is this Labor Day weekend," said Colonel Mike Edmonson, State Police Superintendent. "As a large portion of our state continues to face challenges due to Hurricane Isaac, others will be enjoying the holiday weekend. Let us not forget our fellow citizens who continue to struggle through storm recovery. Buckle up, designate a sober driver and travel safe."
Every year across our nation, impaired drivers kill or injure thousands of people. Impaired driving is a deadly crime that remains prevalent in Louisiana. Nationally, alcohol impairment among drivers involved in fatal crashes was four times higher at night than during the day and thirty-one percent of drivers involved in fatal crashes on weekends were impaired by alcohol, compared to sixteen percent during the weekdays.
In Louisiana during 2011, impaired drivers were involved in 43 percent of fatal crashes. Troopers will be working closely with local law enforcement agencies to make vehicular travel safer by participating in this year's "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" nationwide enforcement campaign. The campaign is designed to save lives by keeping impaired drivers off the road and reducing roadway fatalities.
Motorists should designate a safe and sober driver before heading to any location where alcohol will be consumed. To report impaired drivers, motorists are encouraged to dial *LSP (*577) from their cellular phone or to contact their local law enforcement agency.
Troopers would also like to remind motorists of the importance of wearing seatbelts. Last year in our state, 65 percent of drivers killed in crashes were not wearing a seat belt. Louisiana law requires all occupants to be properly restrained regardless of their age or seating position, day and night. While not all crashes are survivable, seatbelts can greatly decrease the likelihood of death or serious injury in the event of a crash.
Several roads remain closed due to the effects of Hurricane Isaac. Information on road closures may be found online by clicking on the road closure link on our website, www.LSP.org. Road closure information may also be obtained by dialing 511 from any telephone.