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Motor
Vehicle Injury
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Reduce
deaths caused by motor vehicle crashes.
Target:
15.8 deaths per 100,000 population.
Baseline, 1998: 20.8 deaths per 100,000 population were
caused by motor vehicle crashes.
Target Setting Method: Healthy People 2010 objective
target. Represents 24 percent improvement in North Carolina.
Reduce
nonfatal injuries caused by motor vehicle crashes.
Target:
15.6 non fatal injuries per 1000 population.
Baseline, 1998: 147,145 or 19.5 per 1000 population in
nonfatal crashes injuries.
Target Setting Method: 20 percent improvement.
Reduce
nonfatal alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes.
Target:
1.05 nonfatal alcohol-related crashes per 1000 population.
Baseline, 1998: 10,530 or 1.4 per 1000 population in
nonfatal alcohol-related crashes.
Target Setting Method: 25 percent improvement.
Reduce
fatal alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes.
Target:
0.045 fatal alcohol-related crashes per 1000 population.
Baseline, 1998: 458 or 0.06 per 1000 population in fatal
alcohol-related crashes.
Target Setting Method: 25 percent improvement. Increase
use of safety belts.
Increase
use of safety belts.
Target:
92 percent.
Baseline, 1999: 79.9 percent of total North Carolina
population used safety belts.
Target
Setting Method: Healthy People 2010 objective target. Represents
15 percent improvement in North Carolina.
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Injury
- Motor Vehicle Injury
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Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause
of injury-related deaths in North Carolina. In 1998, 1,596 persons
died on state-maintained roads and highways. Of those, 469 deaths
were in alcohol-related crashes. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading
cause of death for children and adults up to age 34. However, motor
vehicle related deaths have been declining over the past 30 years
due to advances in the design of vehicles and roads. North Carolina
laws such as mandatory seat belt usage for children and front seat
drivers and passengers, 0.08 blood alcohol level, and Graduated Drivers
Licensing have done much to make North Carolina roads safer. Additionally,
many highway safety initiatives which increase the enforcement of
these laws (such as "Booze It & Lose It" and "Click
It or Ticket") have effectively changed the cultural norms of
driving safety. Deaths due to motor vehicle crashes are part of a
larger problem. Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of non-fatal
injury to children and adults to age 34. Crashes are the leading cause
of traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury, both of which can
have life-long debilitating effects and are extremely costly to victims
and to society. |
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Disparities
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White males have long had the highest rate
of fatal and serious motor vehicle related injury, especially in the
younger ages. However, in recent years motor vehicle death rates for
females and minorities have been increasing, both in North Carolina
and nationally. The highest traffic injury death rates are found among
American Indians. However, traffic injuries are rapidly rising in
the Hispanic/Latino population. |
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Determinants/Risk
Factors
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Non-use of seat belts and child restraints,
driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs, exceeding safe driving
speed limits, non-use of helmets by motorcyclists and bicyclists |
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| Injury
- Motor Vehicle Injury |
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