HLS 19RS-599 ENGROSSED
2019 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 47
BY REPRESENTATIVES EDMONDS AND FOIL
MTR VEHICLE/VIOLATIONS: Urges and requests the Louisiana State Law Institute to
study a possible change or increase in penalties for drivers who injure or kill
pedestrians or cyclists
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2To urge and request the Louisiana State Law Institute to form a study group to recommend
3 proposed legislation providing penalties for causing injury or death to pedestrians
4 and bicyclists while operating a motor vehicle, and to report its findings to the
5 Louisiana Legislature no later than February 1, 2020.
6 WHEREAS, United States citizens take one hundred twenty-seven million walking
7trips per day and nine million bicycle trips per day; and
8 WHEREAS, one in twelve households in the United States does not own an
9automobile; and
10 WHEREAS, in 2009, 11.9% of all trips taken by Americans were either by walking
11or bicycling, which was 2.4% higher than the percentage of trips taken by Americans while
12either walking or bicycling in 2001; and
13 WHEREAS, 61% of all trips made by bicycle were for recreation or exercise, but
14only 48% of those trips were made on a paved road; and
15 WHEREAS, 63% of all trips made by walking were for recreation, exercise, or dog
16walking, but only 33% of those trips were made on a paved road; and
17 WHEREAS, between 2008 and 2017, drivers in the United States struck and killed
18forty-nine thousand, four hundred thirty people who were walking on paved roads, which
19averages to just under fourteen people per day, or one person every hour and forty-six
20minutes; and
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HCR NO. 47
1 WHEREAS, in 2015, there were over one thousand bicycle-related deaths and almost
2four hundred sixty-seven thousand bicycle-related injuries; and
3 WHEREAS, adults between the ages of fifty and fifty-nine have the highest chance
4of bicycle-related deaths and children and adolescents have the highest chance of bicycle-
5related injuries; and
6 WHEREAS, according to Smart Growth America's Dangerous by Design 2019 study,
7the Baton Rouge metropolitan area is the twelfth most dangerous metropolitan area for
8pedestrians in the United States and Louisiana is the fourth most dangerous state in the
9United States for pedestrians.
10 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
11urge and request the Louisiana State Law Institute to form a study group to recommend
12proposed legislation providing penalties for causing injury or death to pedestrians and
13bicyclists while operating a motor vehicle.
14 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, at a minimum, the study group should include three
15representatives of outdoor cycling clubs within the state of Louisiana, the Louisiana District
16Attorneys Association, and the Louisiana Municipal Association.
17 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Louisiana State Law Institute shall submit
18a report detailing the results of its study and its recommendation for proposed legislation to
19the Legislature of Louisiana no later than February 1, 2020.
20 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
21president of the Louisiana State Law Institute.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HCR 47 Engrossed 2019 Regular Session Edmonds
Urges and requests the La. State Law Institute to form a study group to recommend proposed
legislation providing penalties for causing injury or death to pedestrians and bicyclists while
operating a motor vehicle, and submit a report detailing the results of its study and its
recommendation for proposed legislation to the legislature no later than Feb. 1, 2020.
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