| id | cleanReleaseDate | troopName | title |
| 4513 | 2008-11-21 | Troop E | Holiday Travel & Personal Safety Tips |
| LOUISIANA STATE POLICE COURTESY LOYALTY SERVICE Colonel Michael D. Edmonson, Superintendent News Release Date: November 21, 2008 Holiday Travel & Personal Safety Tips As you are well aware, the “holiday season” is upon us. During the holidays, we see an increase in travel/traffic volume, which can lead to more crashes. Motorists need to remain attentive to their surroundings, exercise patience, extend respect and courtesy to other motorists, and avoid/limit distractions inside the vehicle. The motoring public should follow a few safety guidelines in order to have an enjoyable and safe journey to their destination. First and foremost, every driver upon the roadway should ensure that he/she is properly restrained and that every passenger in his/her vehicle is properly restrained. Lack of seatbelt usage is still the leading cause of fatalities in motor vehicle crashes. Last year 68% of all fatalities in Louisiana involved lack of seatbelt usage and 80% of children (below 5 yrs) killed in crashes were not properly restrained. Not only do we need to ensure that our children are properly restrained in an approved child restraint system, but we need to ensure that every person in the vehicle is properly restrained. Those persons not properly restrained become high-speed projectiles when a crash occurs. This factor alone can cause serious injury or death to other occupants in the vehicle. Note: In a 30 mph crash, a 15-pound child can generate an impact force greater than 450 pounds. While not all crashes are survivable, seatbelts can greatly decrease the occupant’s chance of death and will greatly reduce the extent of injury. Second, and just as important, is the topic of driving while intoxicated. Last year 49% of all fatal crashes in Louisiana involved alcohol. This figure indicates an increase of 6.8% from the year of 2006. There is also a direct correlation between driving while intoxicated and speeding when related to traffic fatalities. A dramatically high percentage of drivers involved in traffic fatalities where intoxication (blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 grams percent or higher) is a factor are also speeding when compared to drivers involved in traffic fatalities where intoxication (blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .000 grams percent) is not a factor. Motorists must be reminded that alcohol has many effects on the body. Alcohol can impair visual ability, alter sense of time and space, impair fine motor skills needed to operate a motor vehicle, and decrease reaction times. Just one drink may cause these effects. In order to ensure a safe following distance, motorists should exercise the three-second rule. To apply this rule one should pick a stationary object (i.e. milepost sign) and begin counting to three by one thousandths when the rear bumper of the vehicle in front of your vehicle passes that object. If your vehicle passes that same stationary object prior to three seconds then you are following too close. If traveling during inclement weather, higher speeds, or high traffic volume, motorists should allow four to five seconds between vehicles. During the year of 2007 there were 895 fatal crashes reported in Louisiana. Out of 895 fatal crashes, 653 were classified as occurring in a rural area. Motorists should exercise just as much caution and care when driving on these roadways as they would on an interstate system. When traveling, do not stop to assist disabled motorists. If you would like to help a disabled motorist, simply call *577 (*LSP) from your cellular phone or your local law enforcement agency. In order for us to respond in a timely manner, we will need a vehicle description and the location. If your own vehicle becomes disabled, be hesitant about accepting or soliciting help from a stranger. Stay in your vehicle with the windows rolled up and the doors locked. Call a family member, friend, or law enforcement for help. If you do not have a cellular phone and a stranger stops to help, stay in your vehicle and ask that person to call for you. Prior to traveling, ensure your vehicle is in proper working order. Your gas tank should be full, tires inflated to manufacturer’s specification, and the tread on your tires should be of sufficient depth (not less than 3/32”). Remember, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. This “holiday season” we will be targeting the aggressive driver, the impaired driver, those that choose not to wear their seatbelts, and those that choose not to put their children in child restraints. The main reason we target these individuals is because these are key factors why fatal crashes occur. As Troopers, we are dedicated in the mission of providing a safer environment for all of our families to drive in. We will be targeting particularly the interstate and federal highways, but at the same time will continue to have a strong officer presence on state and parish roadways. This is a community effort, so we are asking for your help. If someone should observe unsafe or impaired drivers, please report them to Troop E (*577, (318) 487-5911, or 1 (800) 256-4160) or your local law enforcement agency. For More Information, Contact: S/T Scott Moreau Louisiana State Police Troop E Public Affairs Office: (318) 487-5911 www.lsp.org _______________________________________________________ xxx LSP xxx | |||
| No attachments for this article. | |||