Priorities for Reducing Alcohol-Related Driving Among Latino Communities

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration2007PDFProceedingsUnited States. Department of Transportation. National Highway Traffic Safety AdministrationNational Latino Council (U.S.)United States. Department of Transportation. National Highway Traffic Safety AdministrationUnited StatesAlcohol effectsAlcohol useCrash dataDrunk drivingFatalitiesHighway safetyHispanicsHuman factors in crashesImpaired driversTraffic crashesDOT HS 811 263Research and data show that Latinos in the United States are at particular risk of death and injury from alcohol-related crashes. In 2006, 42,708 people were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes. Of those fatalities, 42 percent occurred in alcohol-related crashes. During that same year, 5,405 Latinos were fatally injured in motor vehicle traffic crashes in the United States.Of these fatalities 49 percent were in alcohol-related crashes. In 2002, motor vehicle traffic crashes were the leading cause of death for Latinos age 3 to 8, 11, 14 to 34, and 37. In 2005, motor vehicle traffic crashes were the leading cause of death for every age 3 to 6 and 8 to 34 for the general population. Although the number of fatalities among Latinos in the United States in alcohol-related crashes has decreased from 2,685 in 2005 to 2,645 in 2006, this remains a huge problem and of particular concern to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the National Latino Council on Alcohol and Tobacco Prevention (LCAT). Accordingly, in February 2007, NHTSA and LCAT, with assistance from the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (PIRE), hosted a meeting as part of an effort to identify and promote effective strategies for reducing impaired driving traffic fatalities and injuries among Latino populations. The meeting was designed to discuss a national strategy to prevent impaired driving in the Latino community, and included national leaders in the fields of driving under the influence (DUI) and alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs (ATOD) prevention, as well as influential members of the Latino community. A Statement of Purpose, developed for the summit, is attached as Appendix A. The one-day summit brought together 50 participants who shared the latest data on drinking and driving in the Latino community, research findings on strategies for reducing impaired driving, and results from demonstration projects that adapted and applied proven strategies for the general population to prevent DUI in Latino communities. Presenters shared the latest data, research, and promising strategies for reducing impaired driving, and participants had the opportunity to discuss issues, exchange ideas, identify additional strategies, and make recommendations for further progress. This report features highlights from the meeting.132