A new report finds Louisiana is among 15 states to have made progress in enacting key highway safety laws. The 55-page study by the Washington, D.C.-based Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety uses 15 laws on teenage driving, impaired driving, seat belts and motorcycle rules as its highway safety measuring stick. Louisiana won praise for its laws dealing with seat belts, motorcycle helmets, sobriety checkpoints and ignition interlock devices. The state got credit for parts of laws dealing with how teenagers get driving licenses and booster seats for youngsters. However, advocates said the state needs tougher laws on nighttime driving and passenger rules for new drivers, as well as open container regulations and penalties for repeat drunken drivers.
The 2009 report found that four states—Arkansas, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming—were the worst-performing states because they have the fewest of the most fundamental lifesaving laws. Read the full report here.
