249104 Motor Vehicle Crashes: Wind River Indian Reservation 1994-2009

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Anne Kenney, MPH Candidate, Emory University , Department of Global Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Roger Rochat, MD, MPH , Global Health, Emory University, Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, GA
Objective: Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of unintentional injury death for American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) age 1-44 in the United States, with Wyoming the state with the highest motor vehicle-related death rate among AI/AN between 2003-2007 (1). No specific data exists on crashes occurring within Wyoming's Wind River Indian Reservation boundaries. The overall objective of this study is to describe characteristics of motor vehicle crashes occurring on Wind River Indian Reservation.

Methods: We analyzed data from the Wyoming Department of Transportation (WDOT) to describe characteristics of motor vehicle crashes occurring within Wind River Indian Reservation boundaries.

Results: Between the years of 1994-2009 WDOT reported 4,848 motor vehicle crashes involving 11,696 individuals within the Wind River Indian Reservation boundaries. Similar numbers of males and females were involved, with 40.8% all crashes occurring in drivers less than age 26. Similar number of crashes occurred each year, with crashes more prevalent in January and December. 75.3% of crashes occurred during daylight, with 71.0% on dry roads.

Conclusion: The annual number of motor vehicle crashes did not vary significantly by year. Better driver education for youth and consistent use of seatbelts, may lead to fewer motor vehicle crashes resulting in injury and fatality on Wind River Indian Reservation.

Learning Areas:
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
To describe characteristics of motor vehicle crashes occurring within Wind River Indian Reservation boundaries between 1994-2009.

Keywords: Native Americans, Motor Vehicles

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am an MPH candidate at Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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