Studies show that Latino, Native American and African American populations tend to be more at risk for traffic-related injury. As it has been shown that these minority populations tend to be more affected by poverty than non-Latin whites, their increased risk may be due in part to the dangers associated with poverty. However, socioeconomic status alone does not account for these disparities. Latinos are uniquely at risk because of language barriers and a difference in cultural norms. These barriers are more pronounced among recent immigrants, who may be accustomed to more lax driving rules and practices of a home country. Recent immigrants may also have difficultly correctly interpreting signage and reading Department of Motor Vehicles materials. In rural areas, which often have high percentages of Native Americans and Latinos, crash-related injuries tend to be more severe, since drivers generally travel faster on rural roads than on urban ones and there is less access to emergency care services. It is important for researchers and governmental organizations to be aware of cultural differences so that outreach programs can be designed with the unique traffic safety needs of these populations in mind.
Samenvatting