BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) — Two congressmen, including one from Louisiana, introduced legislation related to disabled roadside vehicle accidents.
U.S. Rep. Troy A. Carter Sr. (D-LA) and Rep. Rudy Yakym (R-IN) want to prevent injuries and deaths with The Preventing Roadside Deaths Act .
“This legislation would require the Department of Transportation (DOT) to collect, analyze, compile, and publish accurate, detailed data on disabled roadside vehicle accidents and develop a strategic plan to stop these accidents,” according to Carter.
In a press release about this bill, Carter mentioned the deadly crash involving three Southern University students in 2022.
Tyran Williams, 19 of Dallas, Texas; Dylan Young, 21, of Dallas, Texas; and Broderick Moore, 19 of Cedar Hill, Texas, were killed while changing a flat tire on I-49.
BRPD: Woman shot, crashes into East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s deputy vehicle “I’m proud to introduce this bill which addresses an urgent and preventable traffic safety crisis,” said Carter. “The tragic loss of three Southern University students in December 2022 is a stark reminder of the lethal dangers faced by anyone stranded along America’s roadways. No one should lose their life while performing something as routine as changing a tire or refueling their car. This legislation protects every day road users and the professionals and first responders who risk their lives to keep our roads safe. It’s past time for comprehensive action to prevent these avoidable roadside deaths. I want to thank Congressman Yakym for his leadership on traffic safety issues, as well as Dr. Martinez and the coalition of traffic safety experts who helped craft this legislation.”
In a news release, Carter highlighted peer-reviewed research that showed disabled vehicles are hit by an oncoming driver about every 7 minutes, about 15,000 are hurt or die because of these accidents each year and most victims are from families that make less than the U.S. median income.
The bill is endorsed by multiple groups including Mothers Against Drunk Driving and the American Automobile Association.
“Injuries and deaths resulting from crashes involving disabled roadside vehicles are a tragic and largely preventable problem in our country,” said Yakym. “I am proud to partner with Congressman Carter on this commonsense, bipartisan legislation so we can help solve a very real issue that affects tens of thousands of people each year and advance a goal we both share: keeping our constituents and all Americans safe on the sides of our roads.”
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