By Emily Burleigh

A network of local experts and community stakeholders are working together with one mission in mind: zero fatalities and serious injuries on public roadways in Louisiana.

The Destination Zero Deaths Southwest Louisiana Region Safety Coalition held its second full meeting of 2024 on Tuesday. The Southwest Louisiana coalition is one of nine throughout the state dedicated to “promoting safe driving practices, such as obeying speed limits, wearing seat belts, avoiding distraction and never driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol,” said Southwest Region Coordinator Amber Ashworth.

Destination Zero Deaths is the vision of Louisiana’s Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP), which “emphasizes the importance of road safety and highlights the state’s commitment to reducing traffic-related fatalities and injuries.”

Data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety indicates that in 2022, Louisiana ranked seventh in total crash fatalities per 100,000 population. The state ranked 10th in total crash fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled.

In 2021, there were 971 state fatalities, with 75 of those fatalities in Southwest Louisiana. The numbers dipped to 906 in the state and 58 in the five-parish area in 2022. According to preliminary data, the number of statewide fatalities decreased to 811 in 2023, but the percentage of Southwest Louisiana fatalities increased.

Ashworth explained to the American Press that the state recognized the severity of traffic-related fatalities nearly 20 years ago. In 2006, the first SHSP was created.

SHSP is a “multi-disciplinary, data-driven and constantly evolving” plan that is committed to promoting road safety through “prevention, education, program development and implementation, roadway projects and support,” she said.

As a “living document,” it is updated every five years with input from the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, Louisiana State Poice, the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission and stakeholders. There have been four SHSPs since its inception. Destination Zero Deaths was adopted in 2017. To implement SHSP across all 64 parishes, the nine Regional Transporation Safety Coalitions were created.

Destination Zero Deaths is now the “No. 1priority” for the state’s transportation system, she said.

“At the heart of the statewide vision is the belief that no loss of life or serious injury on our roads is acceptable.”

The Southwest Region coalition includes Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron and Jefferson Davis parishes. Ashworth said that partners and members include driving behavior experts, engineers, law enforcement, emergency service providers, educators, driving schools, advocacy and community groups.

Through these partnerships, the Southwest Region coalition provides community education and outreach initiatives in local schools, pre-schools, driving schools and planning agencies. These are aimed at reducing road fatalities and injuries and are centered around “impaired driving prevention, pedestrian safety, work zone safety and child passenger safety.”

“We are proud to work with the Southwest Louisiana Regional Safety Coalition SWLARSC to provide these important safety services to the community,” Ashworth said. “Together, we can make Louisiana’s roads safer for everyone.”

Information on Destination Zero Death can be found on destinationzerodeaths.com.