Race, Hispanic origin, and socioeconomic status in relation to motor vehicle occupant death rates and risk factors among adults.

Black and Hispanic adults travel less in motor vehicles than whites but may be at greater risk when they do travel. Passenger vehicle occupant deaths per 10 million trips among persons ages 25-64 were computed by race, Hispanic origin, gender, and socioeconomic status using 1995 data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System and Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey. Educational level was used as the indicator of socioeconomic status. Blacks, particularly black men, were at increased risk of dying relative to whites when traveling in motor vehicles (risk ratio (RR) for black men=1.48; 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.42-1.54). Hispanic men, but not Hispanic women, also had elevated occupant death rates, but their risk was less than that of black men (RR=1.26; 95% CI=1.20-1.31). Socioeconomic status was the strongest determinant of occupant deaths per unit of travel; risk ratios among those who had not completed high school were 3.52 (95% CI=3.39-3.65) for men and 2.79 (95% CI=2.69-2.91) for women, respectively. Whites without high school degrees had the highest death rates per 10 million trips. After adjustment for socioeconomic status, the elevated risk of occupant fatalities persisted among black men and women, but not among Hispanic men. Seat belt use and alcohol-impaired driving were examined among fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers. Among those with no education beyond high school, higher percentages were reported as having high blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) or having not used belts. Reported belt use rates were lower among black men and women, even after controlling for socioeconomic status, whereas Hispanic men and women had belt use rates similar to those of whites. High BACs were more common among Hispanic men, largely because most Hispanic men killed in crashes had not completed high school, the education level with the highest percentage that drove while impaired by alcohol. Intensive public health efforts are needed to reduce occupant deaths, including passage of primary seat belt laws and impartial enforcement of belt use and alcohol laws.