BATON ROUGE- The Louisiana State Police investigated ten fatal crashes on Louisiana highways during the Thanksgiving holiday period of November 26 through November 30. These crashes resulted in 12 deaths across the state.

As with most fatal crashes in Louisiana, driver impairment and the lack of passenger restraints are the common factor in these deaths. Of the ten fatal crashes investigated by State Police, six fatalities occurred due to a lack of seat belt use. Four of these crashes were alcohol related.

State Police will continue its aggressive public education and enforcement campaigns to promote seat belt and child restraint use and to warn people of the dangers of driving while impaired.

Louisiana State Law requires all front seat occupants to wear a seat belt. All children under the age of 13 must be seat belted or in a proper child restraint regardless of their location in the vehicle.

Alcohol is not the only thing that can cause impairment for drivers. Illegal drugs, prescription drugs and even over the counter medications can impair drivers, endangering not only their lives, but the lives of other motorists. Prescription and over the counter medications can still result in an arrest for DWI.