According to a June 2021 report from the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), analyzed data showed that fatalities from traffic accidents over a five year period from 2015 to 2019, disproportionately affect Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. This study is a first in the past decade of national analysis on this topic.
Here’s what the analysis concluded:
- Compared with all other racial groups, American Indian/Alaskan Native persons had a substantially higher per-capita rate of total traffic fatalities. White, Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander, Hispanic and Asian persons had lower than average rates.
- American Indian/Alaskan Native persons had the highest per-capita rate of total traffic deaths, speeding-related fatalities, as well as pedestrian, and bicyclist deaths.
- Black persons had the second highest rate of total traffic deaths, pedestrian traffic deaths, and bicyclist traffic deaths.
- Traffic fatality rates among white persons exceed those of BIPOC in motorcycle driver and passenger deaths.
And here are the proposed state and community action steps:
- Prioritize planning and investment in infrastructure safety countermeasures in underserved/lower socioeconomic communities and neighborhoods that have suffered from years of bias and disinvestment.
- Treat traffic crash involvement as a health disparity issue. Consider how public health approaches to other issues, including mental health and poverty, can inform traffic crash prevention countermeasures.
- Ensure diverse representation in state/city government transportation leadership positions and on traffic safety groups tasked with developing and implementing state and municipal plans.
- Develop new, research-based interventions that prevent traffic crashes before they occur and/or before enforcement activities are required.
- Tailor and develop with BIPOC input safety education campaigns and outreach efforts that address the needs and culture of diverse communities.
- Extensively engage with local BIPOC leadership to determine if and how an equitable traffic enforcement program can be implemented in their community.
- Assess how current traffic enforcement approaches can exacerbate racial/socioeconomic issues and work with stakeholders to identify and implement solutions.
If you should find yourself in need of our services, please don’t hesitate to call Ticket Dismissers for any traffic violation. We’re here for you.