Legislation for Safer Roads

The Louisiana Property and Casualty Insurance Commission held a meeting earlier this year where attorney Mike Barron from the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission presented some legislative recommendations on behalf of the LHSC aimed at improving safety on Louisiana's roads.

In an attempt to find new ways to reduce auto accidents across the state, the commission drafted five proposed bills for 2008. These bills would prohibit drivers under 18 from driving while using a cell phone, ban radar detectors in vehicles, remove those under 21 from bars and microbreweries, expand the state's seat belt law requiring all passengers in the vehicle to buckle up, and increase fines for not wearing a seat belt.

The American Insurance Association recently voiced their support for the bill package. “While several of the elements in these bills have been considered in the past, the measures remain important, and stand to make our roads much safer,” said John Marlow, assistant vice president, AIA southwest region, in a release. “There are many distractions on the roads, especially for young people, and these bills are a strong step towards helping them become safer drivers.”