In 2001, 275000 persons were injured and 17,448 persons died in alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes in the United States. Moreover, drinking and driving pose an even greater danger for Hispanics in the Unite States, especially for newly arrived immigrants, who may be unaware of the U.S. traffic safety laws. Hispanics, whose median age is 26, now number 35.3 million residents and account for 12.5% of all 281 million people in the United States, according to the 2000 Census. The Hispanic population is expected to reach 59 million by 2030 and 81 million by 2050. Tragically, the Hispanic population growth is reflected in an increasing proportion of Hispanic deaths and serious injuries resulting from car crashes. Subject headings for this fact sheet include the following: Risk to the Hispanic Population; Alcohol-Related Crashes Threaten Hispanic Life; Alcohol-Related Crashes and the Cost to Society; Behaviors and Beliefs; Law Enforcement; and Minority Organizations Mobilize to Show Strong Support for Hispanic Americans. (Author/publisher)
Abstract