Louisiana continues a six-year decline in crash deaths.

As a result state officials presented recognition awards on Tuesday to law enforcement officers, agencies, a judge and two prosecutors for their efforts to save lives. The commission presented 38 awards to law enforcement officers, judges, prosecutors and state departments of law enforcement for their diligence in arresting DWI violators.

Judge Douglas J. Saloom of Lafayette City Court was named Louisiana Highway Safety Commission Judge of the Year for his leadership in strengthening Louisiana’s DWI laws through his work with the Louisiana sentencing commission.

This was the seventh year the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission has presented the awards. Impaired driving is a serious problem in Louisiana and across the nation. The commission recently released newly finalized data from LSU’s highway safety research group which showed a 29.2% decline in highway fatalities from 2007 to 2013. According to the crash figures, 703 people lost their lives on Louisiana highways in 2013, down from a high of 993 in 2007.