MOTOR-VEHICLE CRASH FATALITIES AMONG AMERICAN-INDIANS AND NON-INDIANSIN ARIZONA, 1979 THROUGH 1988

Objectives. This study evaluated the contributions of rural residence, alcohol use, and pedestrian fatalities to thr high American Indian mo tor-vehicle crash mortality rate in Arizona. Methods. Records from the Fatal Accident Reporting System were used to examine mortality rates between 1979 and 1988. Results. American Indians had increased relativ e risks in all motor-vehicle crash categories in all residence-gender groups. The percentage of excess mortality associated with alcohol var ied from 36.8% to 66.7%, and the percentage associated with pedestrian deaths ranged from 27.2% to 55.4%. Conclusions. Efforts to reduce exc ess motor-vehicle crash mortality among American Indians should concen trate on preventing pedestrian and alcohol-related fatalities.