Safety Coalition

Our Coalitions

The New Orleans and Northshore Regional Transportation Safety coalitions are two of nine similar bodies across the state formed to implement and sustain Louisiana’s Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP). These coalitions aim to bridge gaps between the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, local governments, law enforcement, public health organizations, education leaders, civic organizations, and other safety stakeholders. Our coalitions help those working in these fields across Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Helena, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, and Washington parishes.

Our Vision

Louisiana’s Strategic Highway Safety Plan is a data-driven approach intended to reduce transportation-related fatalities and serious injuries 50% by 2030. The state’s traffic fatality and injury rate is higher than the national average, and the New Orleans region unfortunately reflects some of the highest rates in the state. Multidisciplinary regional coalitions working on the Northshore and Southshore have developed local strategic highway safety plans that identify strategies for engineering, education, enforcement, and emergency services. These strategic plans are targeted toward five emphasis areas: distracted driving, impaired driving, infrastructure and operations, occupant protection, and young drivers. The New Orleans region has also developed a Walking and Bicycling Action Plan based on higher than average numbers of fatalities and serious injuries. The Coalition Coordinators are tasked with helping to implement, sustain, and update SHSP strategies, evaluating their effectiveness for the state and other regional coalitions and entities.

Why Does Traffic Safety Matter?

With millions of drivers on Louisiana’s roadways every day, traffic safety is an important concern. Fatalities and serious injuries resulting from traffic crashes not only have human consequences, but also economic and societal implications.  Each year, these fatalities and serious injuries cost billions of dollars. Most importantly, these accidents wreck the lives of those injured or killed, as well as the lives of their loved ones. Programs aimed at decreasing and preventing traffic crashes, like the Strategic Highway Safety Plan as well as our Northshore and New Orleans regional safety coalitions, help in mitigating the costs and consequences posed by fatalities and serious injuries.

Our Safety Plan Focus

Our multidisciplinary regional coalitions working on the North and South shores developed local strategic highway safety action plans that identify strategies for engineering, education, enforcement, and emergency services targeted towards five emphasis areas:

  • Distracted Driving
  • Impaired Driving
  • Infrastructure Operations
  • Occupant Protection
  • Young Drivers

In addition to these, the New Orleans Regional Traffic Safety Coalition also has a walking and bicycling emphasis area and action plan.

Meet Our Coalition Coordinators

Our Coalition Coordinators are tasked with helping to implement, sustain and update SHSP strategies, evaluating their effectiveness for the state and other regional coalitions and entities.

Northshore Regional Safety Coalition Logo

Northshore Regional Safety Coalition:
April Higgins 

New Orleans Regional Safety Coalition Logo

New Orleans Regional Safety Coalition:
Melissa Guilbeau, AICP

Useful Resources

Destination Zero Deaths

Information on statewide traffic safety efforts.

Highway Safety Research Group

Information on traffic-related fatalities and causes.

Louisiana Highway Safety Commission

Committed to developing and implementing strategy aimed to preventing injuries in our highways

University Community Injury Prevention Program

Information on Child Safety Seat Resources, and Sudden Impact.

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