This study linked data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System on 162,192 drivers fatally injured in crashes with race and ethnicity information from the National Center for Health Statistics mortality files to examine ethnic group differences in alcohol-related crashes from 1990 through 1996 for all 50 states. This study required the determination of the best method for normalizing data to account for differences among ethnic groups in exposure to crashes related to differences in roadway, vehicle, environmental and economic factors. Data were analyzed separately by age and gender strata to account for differences in the distribution of these demographic factors across ethnic groups. The rate of drinking-driver involvement in fatal crashes was determined based on four different measures: rate per 100,000 population, rate per 100,000 drivers, rate per million vehicle miles, and rate per sober (.00 BAC) driver in a fatal crash. Of the four denominators used, the rate per sober driver in a fatal crash provided the most variance that could be partitioned among ethnic groups. The differences across age groups and among racial/ethnic groups in the involvement in alcohol-related crashes varied significantly based on the denominators used. A consistent finding across ethnic groups was that a higher proportion of males than females were drinking when involved in a fatal crash. Overall, Native Americans had the highest rates and Asian Pacific Islanders the lowest rates of drinking drivers in fatal crashes.
Learning Objectives: to be addressed at a later date
Keywords: Alcohol, Ethnicity
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.