Louisiana Reported More Pedestrians, Bicyclist Deaths in 2012

Deaths involving pedestrians and bicyclists helped push the number of Louisiana highway deaths up last year, even as deaths of motor vehicles drivers decreased.

Figures released Sunday by the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission show highway deaths for 2012 totaled 722 – up from 676 a year earlier.

However, the number of vehicle drivers killed in 2012 dropped to 457 from 467 the previous year.

Pedestrian deaths jumped from 93 in 2011 to 121 in 2012, and bicycle deaths increased from 16 in 2011 to 24 in 2012.

Other deaths accounted for in the figures include passengers in motor vehicles.