Motor vehicle crash fatalities: A comparison of Hispanic and non-Hispanic motorists in Colorado

Study objectives: We compare the population-based death rates from traffic crashes in the Hispanic and non-Hispanic white populations in a single stat e, and compare fatally injured Hispanic and non-Hispanic drivers with respe ct to safety belt use, alcohol involvement, speeding, vehicle age, valid li censure, and urban-rural location. Methods: Hispanic and non-Hispanic white motorists killed in traffic crashe s in 1991-1995 were studied (n=2,272). Data from death certificates (age, s ex, education, race, and ethnicity) and the Fatality Analysis Reporting Sys tem (FARS; driver, vehicle, and crash information) were merged. Average ann ual age-adjusted fatality rates were calculated; to compare Hispanic and no n-Hispanic white motorists, rate ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals ( CIs) were calculated, Odds ratios (ORs), adjusted for age, sex, and rural l ocale, were calculated to measure the association between Hispanic ethnicit y and driver and crash characteristics. Results: Eighty-five percent of EARS records were matched to death certific ates. Compared with non-Hispanic white motorists, Hispanics had higher cras h-related fatality rates overall (RR 1.75, 95% Cl 1.60 to 1.92) and for dri vers only (RR 1.62, 95% CI 1.41 to 1.85). After adjustment for age, sex, an d rural locale, Hispanic drivers had higher rates of safety belt nonuse (OR 1.81, 95% CI 1.20 to 2.72), legal alcohol intoxication (OR 2.73, 95% CI 1. 97 to 3.79), speeding (OR 1.36, 95% CI 0.99 to 1.88), and invalid licensure (OR 2.58, 95% CI 1.78 to 3.75). The average vehicle age for Hispanic drive rs (10.1 years, 95% CI 9.3 to 11.0) was greater than for non-Hispanic white motorists (8.8 years, 95% CI 8.4 to 9.2). Conclusion: Compared with non-Hispanic whites, Hispanic drivers have higher rates of safety belt nonuse, speeding, invalid licensure and alcohol invol vement, with correspondingly higher rates of death in traffic crashes. As t raffic safety emerges as a public health priority in Hispanic communities, these data may help in developing appropriate and culturally sensitive inte rventions.