Recent research demonstrates that minorities are over-represented in motor vehicle crashes. These populations are less likely to wear seat belts or use child safety seats–especially young males. In the African American community, safety belt use remains lower than the population as a whole. The African American population is expected to increase by 13 percent by 2010–10 percent more than their white counterparts–which will increase their exposure to traffic crashes and fatalities. Low seat belt use has important implications for the preservation of African American health and safety. Clearly, expanded efforts are needed to increase seat belt use within the black community.

African Americans Are At Greater Risk

According to a NHTSA national survey, observed seat belt use among African Americans is more than 4 percentage points lower than the national average. (National Occupant Protection Use Survey, [NHTSA, 1998])

The picture is especially grim for young black males. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for blacks through the age of 14. They are the second leading cause of death between the ages of 15 and 24 surpassed only by homicides. (Monthly Vital Statistics Report for 1995, [CDC, 1997])

A recent study examined motor vehicle fatality exposure rates and found that, although black and Hispanic male teenagers travel fewer vehicle miles than their white counterparts, they are nearly twice as likely to die in a motor vehicle crash. Black children ages 5 through 12 face a risk of dying in a motor vehicle crash that is almost three times as great as white children. (Motor Vehicle Occupant Deaths Among Hispanic and Black Children and Teenagers, [Archives Of Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine, 1998;152:1209-1212])

High school students surveyed by telephone also underscored the disparity in belt use that exists between African Americans and other groups. Over 31 percent of black high school students reported rarely or never wearing their safety belts, compared to 21 percent of white and 18 percent of Hispanic students. (Youth Risk Behavior Survey, [CDC, 1995])

A recent survey of hospital emergency room visits showed that motor vehicle crashes accounted for 779,000 visits per year for African Americans, at a rate of 24 per 1,000 people compared to 14 per 1,000 for whites. (Vital and Health Statistics, [CDC, January 1998])

Seat Belts Save Lives And Dollars

In 1998, there were 575 passenger vehicle occupant fatalities among children under 5 years of age. Of those 575 fatalities, an estimated 293 (or 51 percent) were totally unrestrained. [National Center for Statistics & Analysis, 1998])

A recent public opinion survey shows that 42 percent of minority children (of which blacks were a part) are at greater risk of air bag related injuries because they are more frequently placed in rear facing infant seats in the front seat of vehicles with passenger-side air bags. By contrast, 15 percent of white children were improperly placed in the front seat of these vehicles. Children younger than 12 should always be placed in the back seat. (Public Opinion Strategies, [Air Bag & Seat Belt Safety Campaign, March 1998])

Observations conducted in 1996 showed that if a driver is wearing a seat belt, 86 percent of the time young children are also restrained. If the driver is not wearing a seat belt, however, young children are restrained only 24 percent of the time. (Traffic Safety Facts, [National Center for Statistics & Analysis, 1997])

Research on the effectiveness of child safety seats has found them to reduce fatal injury for infants (less than 1 year old) by 71 percent and toddlers (1-4 years old) by 54 percent. (Traffic Safety Facts, Children [National Center for Statistics & Analysis, 1998])

The cost of unbuckled drivers and passengers goes far beyond those killed and the loss to their families. We all pay - in higher taxes and higher health care and insurance costs. On average, inpatient hospital care costs for unbuckled crash victims exceed those who are buckled by $5,000. The injured victim pays only about 15% of medical costs out-of-pocket. The remaining costs – the vast majority – are paid by a combination of tax supported public health care programs and private insurance coverage. (The Economic Costs of Motor Vehicle Crashes, [NHTSA, 1994], CODES Research Note, [NHTSA, 1996])

Greater seat belt use will significantly reduce unintentional death and injury in the African American community and the nation as a whole. With a 90 percent seat belt use rate across the country, the nation would save a total of $356 million per year in Medicare and Medicaid costs. (Presidential Seat Belt Initiative, [NHTSA, 1997])

Minority Organizations Show Strong Support For Seat Belts

NHTSA supports efforts in states to enact primary seat belt laws, because seat belt use rates are typically much higher in states with primary or standard enforcement. In states with primary laws, drivers can be stopped and cited specifically for non-use of safety belts. In other states, drivers must be stopped for other violations before they can be cited for non-use of seat belts. Organizations like the National Black Caucus Of State Legislators, the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, Blacks In Government, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., the National Education Fund, Inc., and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. also support seat belt laws and the strong enforcement of these laws because they will save lives and prevent injuries in the African American community.

In response to the over representation of African Americans in traffic fatalities, eight organizations that serve the African American community were awarded funding to develop culturally appropriate programs for community outreach. These organizations will support the Buckle Up America campaign and the Operation ABC: America Buckles Up Children mobilizations.

Perceptions And Enforcement Of Primary Seat Belt Laws

NHTSA strongly opposes any form of selective enforcement that uses race or ethnicity as a criteria for stopping a motorist. In three states - Louisiana, California, and Georgia - that upgraded their laws to primary enforcement statutes, minority groups thought their chances of getting a seat belt ticket were higher than for whites. As a result, their recorded increases in usage were greater than the recorded increases for whites. However, seat belt use among African Americans remained lower than that among whites both before and after passage of standard enforcement laws. Furthermore, research conducted in several localities in Louisiana and Georgia showed no changes in ticketing patterns by race that would suggest minority groups received a greater proportion of tickets as a result of primary laws being enacted and enforced. Younger drivers, males, and those who drove more than 15,000 miles a year did get more tickets. (NHTSA evaluations, 1995, 1996, 1997)