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April 3, 2025 - Distracted driving crashes in Louisiana cause death, injury, and higher insurance rates, state leaders and advocates said on Thursday.
To raise awareness of the issue, LHSC Executive Director Lisa Freeman hosted a news conference featuring Commissioner of Insurance Tim Temple, State Police Superintendent Col. Robert Hodges, Department of Transportation and Development Secretary Joe Donahue, and StopDistractions.org CEO Jennifer Smith.
Gov. Jeff Landry earlier proclaimed April as Distracted Driving Awareness Month in Louisiana.
Distracted driving is “any activity that diverts attention from driving,” according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Distractions include using a cell phone, talking to passengers, eating or drinking, adjusting music or navigation settings, or anything that takes a driver’s concentration away from the road.
Each speaker is working in his or her own area to improve safety, but all share the same “team goal” of eliminating distracted driving, Freeman said. “If you want to win the game, keep your eye on the ball. If you want to make it to the game, keep your eye on the road.”
Distracted driving is an under-reported behavior because in some cases it may be difficult to determine driver distraction. However, the widespread use of cell phones is believed to be a major contributor to distracted or inattentive crashes.
Commissioner Temple said one reason auto insurance rates are high in Louisiana is too many people use their cell phones while driving, leading to destructive crashes.
“My message is clear,” Commissioner Temple said. “Don’t use mobile phones or other electronic devices while driving.”
Distracted drivers are depriving themselves of “crucial seconds that could mean the difference between life and death," Col. Hodges said. “I urge you to make a commitment to yourself and your loved ones that you will not drive distracted. I have personally witnessed the tragic outcomes of distracted driving throughout my career, and our troopers witness it far too often across the state. LSP remains committed to keeping our roadways safe for Louisiana residents and visitors, but we cannot do it without your help.”
“Safety of the traveling public is our No. 1 concern at DOTD,” Secretary Donahue said. He added that preliminary data from 2024 show that distracted driving crashes led to 178 fatalities and 1,295 serious injuries in Louisiana. “These statistics reflect not just numbers, but lives lost, families shattered and communities impacted. These crashes are preventable when drivers pay attention to the roadway.”
Smith started StopDistractions.org after her mother died in a 2008 Oklahoma City crash with a pickup truck. The truck driver admitted he did not see the red light because he was talking on his phone. The truck was traveling 45 miles per hour when it crashed into the side of the small SUV.
Today, Smith honors her mother’s memory by traveling the country to raise awareness of the human costs of distracted driving. We have access to more data and better technology today that can reduce distracted driving, she noted.
“Every day, and every year that we fail to act on the proven solutions to reduce distracted driving, we let down the families of our friends and neighbors,” Smith said. “Lives are being shattered, not just lost, by crashes that we know how to prevent.
“Families are burying their children, their parents, their spouses, because we aren’t using the tools we already have. That’s the part that breaks my heart the most. These crashes are destroying entire families, and they’re completely preventable.”
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