ENROLLED
2019 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 47
BY REPRESENTATIVES EDMONDS AND FOIL
A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
To urge and request the Louisiana 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 to report its findings to the
Louisiana Legislature no later than February 1, 2020.
WHEREAS, United States citizens take one hundred twenty-seven million walking
trips per day and nine million bicycle trips per day; and
WHEREAS, one in twelve households in the United States does not own an
automobile; and
WHEREAS, in 2009, 11.9% of all trips taken by Americans were either by walking
or bicycling, which was 2.4% higher than the percentage of trips taken by Americans while
either walking or bicycling in 2001; and
WHEREAS, 61% of all trips made by bicycle were for recreation or exercise, but
only 48% of those trips were made on a paved road; and
WHEREAS, 63% of all trips made by walking were for recreation, exercise, or dog
walking, but only 33% of those trips were made on a paved road; and
WHEREAS, between 2008 and 2017, drivers in the United States struck and killed
forty-nine thousand four hundred thirty people who were walking on paved roads, which
averages to just under fourteen people per day, or one person every hour and forty-six
minutes; and
WHEREAS, in 2015, there were over one thousand bicycle-related deaths and almost
four hundred sixty-seven thousand bicycle-related injuries; and
WHEREAS, adults between the ages of fifty and fifty-nine have the highest chance
of bicycle-related deaths and children and adolescents have the highest chance of bicycle-
related injuries; and
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WHEREAS, according to Smart Growth America's Dangerous by Design 2019 study,
the Baton Rouge metropolitan area is the twelfth most dangerous metropolitan area for
pedestrians in the United States and Louisiana is the fourth most dangerous state in the
United States for pedestrians.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
urge and request the Louisiana 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.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, at a minimum, the study group should include
three representatives of outdoor cycling clubs within the state of Louisiana, the Louisiana
District Attorneys Association, and the Louisiana Municipal Association.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Louisiana State Law Institute shall submit
a report detailing the results of its study and its recommendation for proposed legislation to
the Legislature of Louisiana no later than February 1, 2020.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
president of the Louisiana State Law Institute.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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