Citation

Bhat G, Naumann RB. J. Saf. Res. 2013; 47: 93-97.

Affiliation

Division of Unintentional Injury Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30096, USA. Electronic address: GBhat@cdc.gov.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, U.S. National Safety Council, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jsr.2013.09.001

PMID

24237875

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The U.S. population is shifting to become both older and more racially and ethnically diverse. Our current understanding of U.S. drivers' travel-related needs and concerns by race/ethnicity is limited.

METHODS: Data from the 2010 HealthStyles survey, an annual, cross-sectional, national mail-panel survey of persons ages 18years or older living in the United States, were used to calculate weighted percentages of travel-related behaviors, opinions, and concerns by race/ethnicity. Logistic regression was used to explore associations between race/ethnicity and specific travel-related concerns, while adjusting for other demographic characteristics.

RESULTS: Adequate transportation alternatives to driving were reported by a greater percentage of persons in certain minority groups compared to whites (Hispanic: 34.7%; white: 23.4%). Concern for the availability of alternatives to driving in the future was greater among minority groups (black: 57.7%; Hispanic: 47.3%; other: 50.9%) compared to whites (37.5%). Additionally, among persons with a household income of $25,000+, minorities were generally more likely than whites to report concern about having alternative transportation options to driving, whereas concern was consistently high among all racial/ethnic groups for those earning less than $25,000 annually. In each racial/ethnic group, more than 10% of persons reported not knowing how they would get around if they could no longer drive.

CONCLUSIONS: Important variations by race/ethnicity in both travel behaviors and concerns for adequate alternatives to driving were found, revealing the need for further research to better understand reasons for these differences and to identify ways to meet the transportation needs of the changing U.S. population demographics.

IMPACT ON INDUSTRY: Further research on adequate alternatives to driving and transportation needs is needed.

Language: en