Motor vehicle crash fatalities: The effects of race and marital status

Abstract

This study compared victims of motor vehicle fatalities to deaths due to natural causes. It was hypothesized that the race and marital status of victims would have significant effects on the likelihood of death from motor vehicle accidents. In particular, African Americans were expected to have fatalities significantly higher than those of whites. Cross-sectional data on a universe of all deaths occurring in the United States of men and women aged 15 and above from the 1992 Mortality Detail File were analyzed to examine the association between black race and marital status, and automobile fatalities. Statistical adjustments were made for possible confounders, such as age, normal occupation of victims, nativity status, region of the country of the accident, day of the week, and month. Multivariate logistic regression models were fitted to the data. Compared to whites, African Americans were significantly less likely (OR = 0.732, CI = 0.693 − 0.772) to die from motor vehicle crashes relative to other causes of death. Native Americans were more likely (OR = 2.326, CI = 1.947 − 2.779) than whites to die of accidents, and Asians were significantly more likely than whites to become victims of fatal crashes (OR = 1.654, CI = 1.438 − 1.902). As for marital status, compared to married individuals, divorced persons were significantly more likely to die of automobile accidents (OR = 1.205, CI = 1.147 − 1.267). Widowed and single individuals were less likely to die of motor vehicle accidents (OR = 0.819, CI = 0.781 − 0.860; OR = 0.654, CI = 0.618 − 0.692) than married individuals. Divorced individuals had elevated risks of motor vehicle accidents, a finding that is consistent with those examining mortality from other external causes (e.g. suicide and homicide). It was suggested that divorce may be a potentially stressful life event that might leave some individuals temporarily incapacitated to operate automobiles safely. Race was expected to influence accidents due to the role of social disadvantage. However, only Native Americans, Hispanics, and Asians had fatality risks above those of whites. Blacks were significantly less likely to become victims of fatal crashes. Hence, social disadvantage is not enough to explain racial differences in accident victimization in the United States. Potential confounders, such as alcohol impairment, seat belt use, age of automobiles, operator behavior, and road conditions may offer alternative explanations.