PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for Hispanics from ages one through 44, and the third leading cause of death for Hispanics of all ages. A study entitled, “Motor Vehicle Deaths Among Hispanic and Black Children and Teenagers,” found that although Hispanic and African-American teenagers travel fewer miles than their white counterparts, they are nearly twice as likely to die in a motor vehicle crash. A public opinion survey conducted by the Air Bag and Seat Belt Safety Campaign indicated that 42 percent of minority children were incorrectly placed in the front seat of cars equipped with airbags. By contrast, only 15 percent of white children were improperly placed.

The 2000 census indicates that New York State has an Hispanic population of 2,867,583, a 30 percent increase from 1990. Nearly 900,000 (31 percent) Hispanics are concentrated in the Bronx and seven Hudson Valley counties. Many do not realize the need to use seat belts, child safety seats, bike helmets, and other safety gear. In addition, they are distrustful of enforcement and have a poor understanding of traffic safety laws.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

The goal of this project is to increase awareness and knowledge of traffic safety among Hispanics by providing information from a credible source. El Aguila, a monthly newspaper, is the only paper in the tri-state area to publish in both the English and Spanish languages. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Region II met with the editor to discuss the possibility of promoting traffic safety through its paper. When made aware of the effect that traffic crashes were having on the Hispanic community, the editor made a commitment to include traffic safety information.

In support of that commitment, the group developed the following objectives:

• Include at least one traffic safety article or message in each publication of El Aguila.

• Establish El Aguila as a traffic safety resource for the Hispanic Community.

STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES

NHTSA Region II meets with El Aguila’s associate publisher on a regular basis to address traffic safety concerns and provide copies of NHTSA’s printed materials. In turn, the publisher provides Region II with the dates and events of particular importance to the Hispanic population, which are then passed along to state and local traffic safety partners.

RESULTS

For the last four years, El Aguila has published a traffic safety article or message in each monthly edition. Starting in February 2002, the paper will be published weekly, thus significantly increasing exposure. Among the topics that have been addressed are aggressive driving, seat belt use, child passenger safety, airbags, and information on what to do if stopped by a traffic officer.

In addition, El Aguila’s associate publisher has become a resource in the region for helping traffic safety professionals understand the Hispanic culture, and has spoken at several major conferences including the Greater New York Auto Dealers Association’s Diversity Symposium, and the annual New York State Traffic Safety Conference. The publisher is also a member of the Region II Diversity Alliance and works closely with the New York State Diversity Liaison.

   WINTER 2002