As a DWI defense attorney in New Orleans, Louisiana, I’m all too familiar with the fact that our state is known for its high number of impaired drivers.
There is good news, however: according to a new state report, titled “Impaired Driving Plan for Federal Fiscal Year 2013 and 2014,” the rate of fatal crashes involving drunk drivers is decreasing.
A report from thetowntalk.com says that for 2013, Louisiana was one of only four states classified as a high-range state for DWI-related fatalities, based on miles driven. As we head into 2014, expect Louisiana to move into the “mid-range” category with most other states.
To show this decrease, let’s look at the statistics. The number of alcohol-related fatalities in 2007 was 446. This number dropped to 297 in 2012.
These improvements are encouraging, but Louisiana still has a long way to go before it can consider itself a safe state to drive in with regard to impaired drivers. For example, Orleans Parish and St. Tammany Parish are listed among sixteen parishes identified in the report as “problem parishes.” This means impaired driving is worse here than in most other areas across the state.
As a New Orleans and Orleans Parish business, Harmon, Smith & Vourvoulias, LLC is glad to see Louisiana officials fighting the problem head on. We hope to see the number of alcohol-related fatalities decrease further in the coming years.
Contact our experienced DWI defense attorneys today for a consultation if you have been charged with a DWI in Louisiana.
