Because of the growing concern in the motor vehicle traffic safety community over the high number of minority fatalities, this report was written to describe the differences among racial and ethnic groups in the frequency of occurrence of characteristics or behaviors associated with fatalities in motor vehicle traffic crashes. When measured against deaths from all causes, motor vehicle traffic crashes have accounted for disproportionately large percentages, particularly among Native Americans and Hispanics. Alcohol has played a major role in the deaths of both drivers and pedestrians. Additional factors contributing to higher numbers have been lack of valid licensing for drivers, and lower usage of safety belts, child safety seats, and motorcycle helmets by all but Asian/Pacific Islanders. Compared to all others, African American children were killed in disproportionately high numbers in both urban and rural settings. (Author/publisher)
Abstract