David G. Schlundt, PhD¹, Irwin Goldzweig, MA², Stephania Miller, PhD², and Carlotta Arthur, PhD². (1) Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, 301 Wilson Hall, Nashville, TN 37203, (615) 322-7800, david.schlundt@vanderbilt.edu, (2) Center for Community-Based Research, Meharry Medical College, 1005 D.B. Todd Blvd., Nashville, TN 37208

Purpose: In 1999, racial disparities in seat belt use were identified showing African American’s have excess risk for injury and death. The 2002 National Occupant Protection Use Survey (NOPUS) suggested disparities no longer exist. We conducted observations at intersections and parking lots in predominantly African American, inner city areas for comparison to NOPUS Survey estimates, and to determine if there were there racial differences in seat belt use. Methods: Observations were made at intersections in Rochester, NY, Jackson, MS, Washington, DC, Inglewood, CA, and in community health center parking lots in Jackson, MS, Nashville, TN, Memphis, TN, and Mound Bayou, MS. In each city, 15 major intersections were identified randomly, 10 from census tracts that were predominantly African American and 5 from predominantly white census tracts. Results: Data were coded for 8,540 drivers, pooled from the 10 different observation sites, and used to estimate rates of seat belt use for Whites, African Americans, and “other” racial group. Rates were 64.1% for African Americans, 78.5% for Whites, and 81.5% for the “other” race group. There was a significant association between race and rate of seat belt use (c²(2) = 319.5, p < 0.0001). Conclusions: Our observed rate of seat belt use for African Americans was well below the national average observed in the 2002 NOPUS survey. Our results suggest that racial disparities in seat belt use may still persist, and that there is a continued need to work in African American communities to increase seat belt use.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize racial/ethnic disparities in seat belt use as a potential public safety problem.
• Describe the evidence presented that disparities may still exist.
• Discuss the limitation of the national data that show higher rates of belt use among African Americans.

Related Web page: www.meharry.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.