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Multicultural Outreach
What You Should Know about African Americans and Safety Belts
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Recent research demonstrates that minorities are over-represented in motor vehicle crashes.
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Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for African Americans through the
age of 14. They are the second leading cause of death for African Americans between the ages
of 15 and 24, surpassed only by homicides.
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In 2000, the seat belt use rate among African Americans was five percentage points lower
than that for whites.
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A recent survey showed that 42 percent of minority children (of which African Americans
were a part) were at greater risk of air bag related injuries because they were more frequently
placed 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.
Good News
What You Should Know about Hispanics and Safety Belts
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For Hispanics, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for ages 1-34.
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A recent study examined motor vehicle fatality exposure rates and found that, although
African American 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.
Differential Enforcement
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The issue of a law enforcement officer stopping a citizen based purely on race or ethnicity,
known as differential enforcement or "racial profiling," has recently become an issue in traffic
safety.
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While NHTSA supports the enactment of primary seat belt laws among the States, NHTSA strongly
opposes any form of enforcement that uses race or ethnicity as a criterion for stopping
a motorist. NHTSA continues to work with the Department of Justice to develop
and promote best practices for conducting fair, professional traffic stops.
NHTSA also continues to work with its State and community public safety partners
to ensure that traffic stops are made for legitimate law violations. NHTSA
encourages law enforcement agencies to adopt policies, management practices,
training, and community outreach efforts to eliminate differential enforcement.
R6 DIVERSITY OUTREACH LIAISON: South Central Region has acquired
the services of Luther Perry as its Diversity Outreach Liaison to help
bring together minority communities, State highway safety offices, and
traffic safety programs aimed at decreasing injuries and fatalities
to minorities. Perry served on the Fort Worth Police Dept for 25 years
as a patrol officer, a recruiter, an investigator and as an assistant
to the Chief. Together with local clergy, Perry helped to create the
Ministers Against Crime to help keep crime and unintentional injuries
under control. Perry also founded a nonprofit organization to reach
out to kids. In 1999, the organization helped 2,100 North Texas kids.
To get involved in R6 diversity outreach, email Region6@nhtsa.dot.gov
In South Central Region, there are a number of programs targeted toward diverse
groups. For example, El Protector, an Hispanic public education program,
uses Hispanic police public affairs officers as spokesmen in the Hispanic
community. They speak to Hispanic groups, appear at fiestas and other
events, and appear on Hispanic television and radio stations. In addition,
the South Central Region office has formed partnerships with the National Conference
of Black Mayors and other organizations to promote increased safety
belt and child safety seat use among African-Americans.
South Central Region also works closely with the Bureau of Indian Affairs Highway
Safety Program in Albuquerque to assist Indian tribes throughout the
nation with their traffic safety needs. Every year, more than 1,300
American Indian and Alaska Native people die prematurely from trauma
as the direct result of injuries. An additional 10,000 Native Americans
are hospitalized for injury trauma and as many as 50,000 patient days
are spent in IHS and contract care hospitals. The Region also promotes
Safe Tribal Communities among the tribes.
Diversity Resources and Publications List
For additional information on programs targeted at diverse populations, please visit the following Web sites:
BIA Indian Highway Safety Program
Indian Health Service
Safe Tribal Communities
Hispanic Safe Communities
National Conference of Black Mayors
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