Focusing on South Carolina
March 2009
Focus: Latino Highway Safety
SC Statistics:
- In 2007, South Carolina traffic deaths (per 100 million vehicle miles) were 55% higher than the national rate.
- Latinos in South Carolina are overrepresented in traffic fatalities at a rate of 43.2 per 100,000 people. This rate is 1.7 times higher than the nearest racial/ethnic group.
- Over 50% of Latino fatalities from 2003-2007 were among vehicle passengers who were not wearing seat-belts.
Why is this a public health priority?
Unintentional injury is the number one cause of morbidity and mortality in the first 40 years of life, and motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of injury. Beyond the tragedy resulting from loss of life, the financial costs of treatment and property damage due to motor vehicle crashes affect everyone. The total economic loss to SC due to motor vehicle crashes in 2007 was $2.84 Billion. This is an annual cost per person of $592.
What is the role of SCPHI in addressing this priority?
The South Carolina Public Health Institute has joined with key partners to access leaders in South Carolina’s Latino community and to educate them about this problem and ways to promote Latino highway safety. Most recently SCPHI co-sponsored a train-the-trainer safety seminar in partnership with several state agencies and community groups.
Who are SCPHI’s key partners in this effort?
South Carolina Department of Public Safety
South Carolina Department of Transportation
Strategic Highway Safety Plan
USC’s Consortium for Latino Immigration Studies
