Speed kills

(Please slow down. The life you
save may be yours or a loved one.)

  It should not be big news to anyone who drives on Louisiana’s highways that a lot of vehicles are exceeding the speed limit. However, it might be a surprise to learn just how serious of a problem this is. A recent study by the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development found that 79 percent of vehicles on the interstate highways on which speed samples were taken were exceeding the speed limit. The speeding rates were even higher on state roads and U.S. highways in Louisiana.
  Highway speed limits are established for a reason: to keep us safe. When a driver exceeds the speed limit, the margin of safety is reduced. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that speed is a factor in almost one-third of fatal crashes. In 2004, almost 1,000 people were killed in traffic crashes in Louisiana. It doesn’t take an expert to figure out that many lives could be saved if more drivers followed basic safety laws such as adhering to posted speed limits, wearing safety belts and staying sober while behind the wheel.
  The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission recently announced a major new campaign designed to get motorists to slow down, with an underlying goal of saving lives and reducing the number of injuries. The Commission’s "100 Days of Summer Heat" program runs from June 5 through September 12 and consists of a public awareness and increased enforcement effort. More than 130 local law enforcement agencies, many in this area, are participating in the 100 Days of Summer Heat campaign, which includes providing overtime grants to agencies for speed limit enforcement.
  The campaign comes at a crucial part of the year when traffic increases as people celebrate the summer and families embark on vacations to out-of-town locations. The 100 Days of Summer Heat campaign is designed to make it safer for all of us to travel in vehicles, whether it’s going to a vacation destination, to and from work, or driving the kids to a sporting event.
  We encourage all drivers to follow the spirit of the 100 Days of Summer Heat campaign by driving within the posted speed limit, regardless of whether you’re on an interstate highway or a neighborhood street. For those who insist on speeding, thousands of law enforcement officers across the state will be out in force ready to write tickets. We hope that all drivers heed the warnings of law enforcement agencies and slow down, rather than risk getting a costly ticket for the sake of saving a few minutes on a trip.
  The purpose of the 100 Days of Summer Heat campaign is to save lives. In past years, an average of 256 people have been killed in traffic crashes in Louisiana between June 5 and September 12. If this summer’s speeding campaign results in saving just one life, it will have been successful.
  The Louisiana State Police will do their part. Please do yours and live to drive another day.

Crowley Post Signal • 602 North Parkerson Avenue • Crowley, LA
Ph: 337-783-3450 • Fax: 337-788-0949