Race, Hispanic Origin, and Socioeconomic Status: Motor Vehicle Occupant Death Rates and Risk Factors Among Adults Elisa R. Braver, Ph.D

IIHS Background: Previous Research on Race/Hispanic Origin and Motor Vehicle Deaths  Conflicting data – some studies found higher risk, some did not  Most studies d id not consider extent of exposure to vehicle travel –One study: observed large increase in death rates per vehicle-mile of travel among black and Hispanic male teenagers in U.S. (Baker et al., 1998)

IIHS Objectives of Study  Are black, Hispanic, and low socioeconomic-status (SES) adults in U.S. at higher risk of dying in motor vehicle crashes when they travel in vehicles?  If there is an excess risk among blacks and Hispanics, is it due to average lower SES?  Are risk factors for occupant deaths more common among adults who are black, Hispanic, or of lower SES?

IIHS Data Sources  1995 Fatality Analysis Reporting System (census of fatal crashes in U.S.) linked with death certificate data  1995 Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey (telephone sample of national travel patterns)

IIHS Methods  Education was SES indicator –Less than high school –High school only –Greater than high school  Racial/ethnic categories –Non-Hispanic white –Non-Hispanic black –Hispanic  Ages  Passenger vehicle occupant death rates calculated per vehicle trip  Risk factors among fatally injured drivers compared by: –Race/Hispanic origin –Gender –SES

IIHS 1995 Passenger Vehicle Occupant Deaths per 10 Million Trips by Race/Hispanic Origin and SES For Both Genders, Ages whiteblackHispanic < high school high school > high school Race/Hispanic Origin Education Level

IIHS 1995 Passenger Vehicle Occupant Deaths per 10 Million Trips by SES and Race/Hispanic Origin Men, Ages 25-64

IIHS Risk Factors Belts  Non-use common among all drivers killed in crashes  Less use among low-SES drivers killed in crashes (men’s use rates: 19% if had no high school degree, 42% if had education beyond high school)  Blacks: lower use rates than whites if they had at least a high school degree (men with education past high school: 36% if black; 42% if white)  Hispanics: use rates  whites with same education

IIHS Risk Factors Alcohol  Alcohol-impaired driving common among all male drivers killed in crashes  More common among low-SES drivers killed in crashes (men: 60% if had no high school degree, 40% if had education beyond high school)  Hispanic men: non-significant increases within same SES groups (high school degree only: 61% if Hispanic, 56% if white)  Black men: non-significant decreases if had at least a high school degree (high school degree only: 52% if black)

IIHS Conclusions  Socioeconomic status: strongest determinant of occupant mortality risk per trip  Blacks, especially black men, and Hispanic men had higher overall occupant death rates per trip than whites  SES explained higher risk of Hispanic men, partly explained it among blacks. Higher SES less protective among blacks  Non-use of belts and alcohol-impaired driving explains some but not all of the excess risk observed among blacks, Hispanics, low SES adults.

IIHS Public Health Implications Need  Public knowledge of belt and alcohol laws, perception that laws will be enforced  Enforcement that is impartial and community-wide; should include community organizations in planning of programs  Stronger belt laws  More effective enforcement of alcohol-impaired driving laws (sobriety checkpoints are underused)

IIHS (703) For more information:

IIHS 1995 Passenger Vehicle Occupant Deaths per 10 Million Trips by SES, Gender, and Race/Hispanic Origin Ages MenWomen White Black Hispanic