Where do you get the stupid idea that it’s normal for people to be run over by Mardi gras floats? Since you’re such an expert, I’m sure you can give me the number for last year, and the year before that.
Parades are potential dangerous events.
Our local uses many safety people to monitor all aspects of it's parades from unloading to final loading of vehicles exiting the area.
If you have ever been involved in parades or as a participant whose insurance for such event dictates safety requirements for insurability given prior stated loss events (injury or death) then you would know what you stated as "normal" is a reality of a statistic or actuaraly event that is trying to be minimized or elemenated.
That New Orleans has average number of deaths per year shows lack of their part to monitor every part of their parades by safety officials.