Priorities for Reducing Alcohol-Related Driving Among Latino Communities

NHTSA · 2007 · ROSA P / United States. Department of Transportation. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

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Summary

This report summarizes the findings and recommendations from a February 2007 summit hosted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the National Latino Council on Alcohol and Tobacco Prevention (LCAT). The meeting addressed the disproportionate risk of death and injury from alcohol-related traffic crashes among Latino communities in the United States. Data presented indicated that while alcohol-related fatalities decreased nationally in previous decades, they remained constant in the last decade of the study period. In 2006, 49% of Latino traffic fatalities involved alcohol, compared to 42% for the general population. Motor vehicle crashes were identified as the leading cause of death for Latinos in several age groups, with second-generation Mexican-Americans exhibiting the highest incidence of driving under the influence (DUI). The summit convened 50 participants from federal and state agencies, academia, law enforcement, public health organizations, and Latino community groups. The methodology involved presentations on national data, including findings from the Hispanic American Baseline Alcohol Survey (HABLAS), followed by breakout sessions to discuss effective countermeasures, implementation challenges, and promising practices. Presenters reviewed strategies proven effective for the general population, such as sobriety checkpoints, administrative license revocation, and mass media campaigns, while analyzing their applicability to Latino populations. The discussions highlighted that while these strategies are potentially effective, they require cultural tailoring to avoid issues such as racial profiling perceptions and to address specific community dynamics, including the influence of "machismo" and high exposure to alcohol advertising. Key findings from the summit emphasized that education alone is insufficient to change behavior; comprehensive programs combining enforcement, policy changes, and culturally sensitive outreach are necessary. Participants identified several promising practices, including the "Pasa Las Llaves" campaign in Arizona, which combined high-visibility enforcement with family-oriented media messages, and the development of Screening and Brief Intervention (SBI) tools by the National Hispanic Medical Association for Spanish-speaking patients. Breakout discussions revealed that enforcement strategies must be introduced carefully to build trust, often by involving community advocates in checkpoints. Additionally, the report noted that communication methods must vary by generation, utilizing "fotonovelas" for first-generation immigrants and English-language media for subsequent generations. The report concludes with six primary recommendations for reducing impaired driving among Latinos. These include developing community-based programs led by local coalitions and faith-based institutions; implementing sustained high-visibility enforcement coupled with targeted communication strategies; enhancing education and outreach to overcome distrust of law enforcement; expanding the use of culturally appropriate SBI in healthcare settings; increasing research and data collection to better understand at-risk sub-populations; and promoting implementation through multi-sector collaboration. The authors assert that there is no single solution, but rather a need for tailored, evidence-based strategies that respect cultural nuances and involve sustained community engagement to alter social norms regarding alcohol use and driving.

Key finding

Proven impaired driving countermeasures are effective for Latino populations but require cultural tailoring and high-visibility enforcement combined with targeted communication to overcome barriers such as distrust of law enforcement and cultural norms.

Methodology

review

Provenance

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Topics

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• dui enforcement
• demographic disparities