2011 Saw Decline in Rear Seat Passenger Deaths

More people seem to be buckling up in the back seat.

The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission says preliminary crash data shows that 34 rear-seat passengers were killed in Louisiana crashes in 2011. The commission says that’s the lowest level in 10 years.

Although it’s too early to say so, the commission hopes the 10-year low may be a result of Louisiana Legislature’s passage of a law in 2009 that required seat-belt use for rear-seat passengers.

Lt. Col. John LeBlanc, the commission’s executive director, says he is hopeful 2011 turns into a trend.

In 2002, 60 rear-seat passengers died in crashes. That number has dropped in recent years: 52 were killed in 2008, 44 in 2009 and 52 in 2010.

The data was compiled by the LSU Highway Safety Research Group.