Latino Briefs Digest

This monthly digest is written primarily for the staff of UC Cooperative Extension. It is produced by the staff of ANR's News and Information Outreach in Spanish (NOS) based on news reported by mainstream news media and reputable research institutions. Inclusion in the digest does not imply endorsement, nor does SBMS assume responsibility for the veracity of the information. We invite our readers to refer to the source to read more of each particular brief; we'll try to always include a link.

A lack of seat-belt-safety education, an absence of restraints and often a large number of occupants is a deadly combination for Hispanic drivers. National, state and local law-enforcement officials, traffic-safety experts and seat-belt-advocacy groups say cultural and economic differences unique to Hispanics -- foreign-born and native -- keep them from buckling up and using child-safety seats. On a national level, motor-vehicle crashes kill Hispanics at a higher rate than whites, blacks or Asians, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Overall, 1.8 percent of deaths in 2002 -- the most recent year for which such demographic data are available -- were attributed to motor-vehicle crashes. For Hispanics, it was 4.73 percent, which is three times as high as the percentage of whites killed that way and more than twice as high as blacks. Some Latin American countries are just starting to address and enforce seat-belt safety. Costa Rica in 2003 passed its second seat-belt-safety law after record traffic fatalities involving unrestrained motorists. Financial issues also affect seat-belt safety among Hispanics. Many drive older-model cars with defective seat belts or no seat belts at all. Many Hispanics and other immigrants tend to bring their driving habits from their home countries, and lack of seat-belt use is one of them.