| id | cleanReleaseDate | troopName | title |
| 6137 | 2010-10-18 | Troop G | Louisiana State Police Troop G to Participate in National Teen Driver Safety Week |
| LOUISIANA STATE POLICE COURTESY LOYALTY SERVICE Colonel Michael D. Edmonson, Superintendent Troop G News Release October 18, 2010 Louisiana State Police Troop G to Participate in National Teen Driver Safety Week BOSSIER CITY – High fatality rates and low seat belt usage rates among teens continue to reach distressing levels year after year; a trend Louisiana State Police Troop G is working to reverse. During National Teen Driver Week, October 17-23, 2010, Louisiana State Police Troop G will participate in a nationwide enforcement campaign with zero tolerance for all drivers, especially teens, who are not buckled up and not driving responsibly. This special wave of enforcement has been instituted to help combat the high number of teen fatalities in motor vehicle crashes. In preparation for National Teen Driver Safety Week, Louisiana State Police and the National Highway Safety Commission hosted Ms. Tammy Ryden, Region Six National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) coordinator within the Troop G area. Ms. Ryden passionately presented her “Responsible Driving and Seat Belt Safety” message to over 6,000 teenagers at various schools in the Troop G area. Ms. Ryden lost her daughter Rachel Ryden, on February 15, 1999, due to a two vehicle rollover crash where she was unbuckled and ejected. Consequently, Rachel sustained a massive skull fracture after being thrown from the vehicle. Since that incident, Ms. Ryden has traveled the nation telling Rachel’s story to teenagers and why they should buckle up and obey the speed limit. Ms. Ryden also shared her presentations with law enforcement in the area in an effort to encourage officers to aggressively enforce the seat belt law, especially among teens. According to the NHTSA, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of fatalities among teens in the United States. In 2007 alone, 4,540 teen passenger vehicle occupants 16 to 20 years old were killed in motor vehicle crashes, and more than half (2,502) were unrestrained at the time of the fatal crash. To some, the aforementioned data is nothing more than just numbers, but to others, who have suffered a loss, one of those numbers represents a loved one, a friend, a student or a child killed in a crash where they were unbuckled. Currently, Troop G alone has investigated 32 fatal crashes resulting in 37 deaths. Of those 37 deaths, 10 were under the age of 21, seven of which were unbuckled. “Unfortunately, nearly 70% of teens involved in fatal crashes during 2010 died because they were not properly restrained. Vehicle crashes are often very unforgiving. Seat belts are still the single most effective way to prevent serious injury or death in motor vehicle crashes. Uniformed perceptions and driving behaviors must be changed. Troop G personnel are steadfast in their commitment to preventing such tragedy in northwest Louisiana. Aggressive enforcement and driver education initiatives are proven methods of increasing the use of safety restraints and furthering public safety,” said Captain Tom Madden, Louisiana State Police Troop G Commander. Beginning this week, in an effort to save more lives, Louisiana State Police Troop G will be stepping up enforcement efforts on all drivers, especially teens who are not buckled up and driving responsibly. Troopers will be stationary and mobile in those areas frequently traveled by teens both day and night, looking for those drivers and occupants who are not seat belted in. Citations will be issued. “Don’t let the last certificate your family receives be a certificate of death instead of a certificate of achievement”, said Ms. Ryden. Buckle up…..Slow Down….or face the consequences. Contact Information: | |||
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