Letter: Theriot misrepresenting his experience in judge’s race
October 23, 2012Spending: A bipartisan obsession
October 23, 2012Dear Editor,
We are not certain of why it is happening, but the number of people killed on motorcycles, bicycles and while walking along roadways in Louisiana is going up at the same time that the overall highway crash death rate is in decline.
According to preliminary data for 2011, 676 people were killed in crashes involving all types of vehicles in Louisiana, a decrease of 6.1 percent from the previous year. Last year was the fourth consecutive year in which the number of people killed on Louisiana roads declined.
Unfortunately, our death rate for pedestrians increased almost 18 percent in 2011, for motorcycle riders by 8.2 percent and for bicycle riders by 45.5 percent. Motorcycle deaths last year accounted for 8.4 percent of all highway fatalities.
We hope the increase in motorcycle deaths last year is not the beginning of a trend. In the 10-year period of 2002-2011, motorcycle fatality rates bounced back and forth between a low of 65 in 2002 to a high of 104 in 2009. These variations occurred during a period when motorcycle ownership was becoming increasingly popular.
Also difficult to explain are the increases in pedestrian and bicycle rider deaths. Last year, 93 pedestrians and 16 bike riders were killed in crashes in Louisiana. Causes of pedestrian deaths have some similarities to causes of deaths in vehicles, with alcohol use being a significant factor in both.
Nationwide, the number of pedestrians killed increased by 4 percent in 2010, an increase considerably lower than the 18 percent in Louisiana in 2011.
The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission urges pedestrians and drivers to follow commonsense rules designed to keep pedestrians safe. Be aware that risks for pedestrians increase during the evening hours when darkness makes it harder to be seen and alcohol consumption is more common.
Both drivers and pedestrians should be especially careful during Halloween and big sporting events, such as football games, when large numbers of pedestrians and vehicles are on the streets during evening hours.
Lt. Col. John LeBlanc,
Executive Director, Louisiana Highway Safety Commission