16 May Citizens Push for Tougher Hit and Run Laws
A recent string of hit and run accidents has shaken the Baton Rouge community to its core. In April there were four fatal hit and run accidents that are particularly troubling. These accidents took place on the 110 Freeway and were within a three-mile section. The hit and run accidents involved the deaths of one pedestrian, two cyclists, and one man who was in his wheelchair when he was struck.
Baton Rouge’s Vision Zero Called to Task
Vision Zero is a program that was created in 2015 by the Baton Rouge Mayor, Eric Garcetti after he became aware that more than 200 people who are either walking or biking near streets are struck and killed each year. He was horrified to learn that in Baton Rouge, the leading cause of death in children is traffic collisions, many of which are hit and run accidents.
The program’s purpose was to not only create more awareness amongst motorists, but to also help experts like transportation engineers, policymakers, and local law enforcement together to explore ways that the streets can be made safer for everyone.
The ultimate Vision Zero goal was to eliminate pedestrian/cyclist vs motorist deaths by 2025.
When it was first created, support for the Vision Zero program was high, but this recent string of fatal accidents has people questioning how effective the program really is. The Baton Rouge County Bicycle Coalition has become the most vocal group that’s questioning the Vision Zero program. They claim that while city officials and police were excited in the program’s early days, in recent months little action has been taken to reduce cyclist/motorist collisions.
Changes Brought on by Vision Zero
Vision Zero has triggered some changes. The city has identified the streets and crosswalks that are the highest risk of pedestrian/cyclist vs car accidents. In these areas, the city has posted signs alerting motorists to pay attention, used electronic signs that alert motorists of their actual speed, and taken steps to improve crosswalk visibility, yet despite all of this, the city didn’t experience a 20% decrease in the number of pedestrian/car collisions it was hoping for. The number of accidents did decrease but only by 3%.
The Mayor Steps in
While the mayor hasn’t precisely agreed with claims that a sense of apathy currently surrounds the Vision Zero program, he recently stated that he still believes in the program and that he remains committed to ending the troubling hit and run deaths. The first step in improving the program and hopefully saving lives was increasing the Vision Zero budget to $91 million, which is triple the original budget.