Statistics show that Louisiana is a dangerous state for pedestrians. The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission says over the last ten years, more pedestrians have been killed in motor vehicle crashes than passengers. In fact, in 2024, 161 pedestrians were killed on Louisiana roadways – nearly a 10% increase from the year before. So the commission is working to reverse the trend. In a news conference at LSU, State Police Captain Bryan Lee issued a challenge for drivers.
“I want to challenge the motorists to slow down. I want to challenge them to put the phones away. Expect to see pedestrians on the roadway, especially at night,” Lee said.
Business owner and avid runner Jenni Peters says if you’re going to be walking at night, whether there’s a sidewalk or not, your very best line of defense is to wear a reflective vest.
“Almost all of our runners wear something like this at night. If this is just too much for you y’all, it’s simple as a $10. You can come to any running store and get a $10 magnetic clip-on,” Peters said.
DOTD Secretary Glenn Ledet says the agency is taking proactive measures to get drivers to slow down in areas where pedestrians are prevalent.
“We have also been implementing traffic calming measures such as speed bumps, roundabouts, and narrowed lanes in high-risk areas. And finally, we’ve been collaborating with our great law enforcement on high visibility crosswalk patrols,” Ledet said.
