Race and Ethnicity in Traffic Injuries: Examining Disparities in New York State

BACKGROUND:   Between the 2000 census and the 2010 census, the percentage of New Yorkers who identified themselves as Hispanic or Latino, Asian or Pacific Islander (API), or American Indian or Alaskan Native (AI/AN)  increased 20%, 27%, and 50%, respectively.  Disparities exist across all aspects of public health, including motor vehicle traffic injuries -- a leading cause of injury-related death and hospital treatment for New Yorkers.  Assessing the burden of injury among different racial and ethnic groups is essential for developing data-informed traffic safety programs and policies for all New Yorkers.  This is difficult in New York State (NYS) using the police crash reports as these reports do not report race and ethnicity information. 

METHODS:   The Crash Outcome Data Evaluation System (CODES) uses probabilistic linkage methodology to link police crash report data to medical data (hospital and emergency department discharge data), including race and ethnicity.   CODES was examined to evaluate the potential risk factors and medical outcomes of patients treated at a hospital following a crash. 

RESULTS:   The rate of motor vehicle traffic related deaths is 40% higher for AI/AN New Yorkers than it is for non-Hispanic white New Yorkers.  The rates of vehicle traffic related hospitalizations and outpatient emergency department visits are higher for AI/AN and black, non-Hispanic New Yorkers.   Among those hospitalized, AI/AN New Yorkers were 57% less likely to be restrained than non-Hispanic white New Yorkers.  Of those treated at a hospital following a motor vehicle crash, 20% of API, 15% of Hispanic, 14% of black non-Hispanic, and 11% of AI/AN were not vehicle occupants in the crash; this is in contrast with the white, non-Hispanic population, where only 8% were not vehicle occupants.  Minority New Yorkers were 201% more likely to be treated at a hospital from injuries sustained as a pedestrian than white, non-Hispanic New Yorkers.  Similarly, minority New Yorkers were 54% more likely to be treated at a hospital from injuries sustained as a cyclist than white, non-Hispanic New Yorkers.   

CONCLUSIONS:   This work shows that: AI/AN New Yorkers in our study population are particularly at risk for traffic-related injuries; the use of appropriate child restraints is less among minority populations; and more minorities are involved in higher risk roles.