The authorities of New Orleans are encouraging residents to offer their input into the development of this bold initiative called Safe Streets for All, which hopes to significantly minimize traffic deaths. The plan developed incorporates safe routes to designate regions on which improvements can increase life-savers, offering citizens this vital opportunity to determine what aspects receive priority implementation. This gives concerned residents leverage to make vital influences on what transpires on transport developments within their neighborhoods.
Priority corridors target the city’s most dangerous streets
The project team at Safe Streets for All has reviewed crash information available from 2019 to 2023, and what they’ve discovered is a disturbing level of crash-related deaths and injuries that call out for collective and immediate attention and response. Clearly identified are 297 deaths and 1,864 seriously injured victims on New Orleans streets during this last five-year period, with more than 47,000 total injuries reported among approximately 85,000 crashes.
The results revealed a High Injury Network that mapped out roads to address high frequencies of severe injuries, which helped to identify priority points for improvement. Men were 3.4 times more likely to be fatalities and 1.5 times more likely to experience severe injuries than women, while those aged 25 to 44 years old comprised 46% of fatalities and severe injuries, although they were only 31% of the population.
Approximately 1,500 responded to surveys, highlighting poor road design, the absence of infrastructure, and dangerous and illegal behavior as contributing factors to deaths and injuries on our roads.
A virtual meeting was organized to receive feedback from residents
A virtual public meeting has been organized by city authorities on November 20, 2025, between 6:00 PM and 7:00 PM to share initial recommendations on priority corridors and gather feedback on these recommendations. The meeting is intended to share how these corridors have been identified and allow feedback on finalizing the Safety Action Plan.
Participants are encouraged to preview the drafted maps and summary information prior to the meeting, which will be recorded and posted on the Web for those unable to attend. The city can then narrow recommendations based on feedback and complete the plan, making it possible for New Orleans to apply for SS4A Implementation Grants to implement safety measures on designated routes.
The goals are bold because they aim to wipe out traffic deaths
The plan sets forth aggressive goals to reduce traffic fatalities and severe injuries by half by 2031 and to zero by 2041. This strategic plan is consistent with the overall vision embodied within the Safe Systems Approach to transport, which is centered on designing roads to compensate for human error and minimizing injury outcomes upon such occurrence.
A holistic approach considers multiple safety factors
The project relies on comprehensive engagement work, with the project team garnering more than 25,000 data points from almost 2,000 residents via interactive summits, surveys, and mapping exercises. The residents identified poor roadway conditions (78%), inadequate pedestrian safety facilities (55%), and drivers disobeying red lights and stop signs (46%) as contributing factors to crashes and injuries.
Other issues are distracted drivers (44%), a general lack of awareness and respect for traffic regulations (42%), speeding drivers (40%), dangerous crossing points on roads and intersections (30%), and poor night-time visibility (25%). These results show that community members feel they need better pedestrian and cycling paths, lower speeds on roads, and better pedestrian crossing points.
The Safe Streets for All plan developed for the city of New Orleans is a vital opportunity for those affected to shape the future concerning safety on the streets. This plan uses analytical processes to identify factors contributing to street traffic accidents while setting up tough goals to avoid unnecessary deaths and injuries. The engagement meeting on November 20 helps to ensure that safety measures are aligned with community interests.