The inequality of car deaths

[packman]

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Why? Because money buys a better car, a newer car with more safety features. Also, the number of trauma centers, especially in rural and poorer areas , have declined -hence, delayed care.

"In 1995, these death rates — adjusted for age, sex and race — were about 2.5 times higher for people at the bottom of the education spectrum than those at the top. By 2010, they were about 4.3 times higher. That means the inequality of traffic fatalities is getting worse, even as it looks nationwide as if our roads are getting safer."


http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonkblog/wp/2015/10/01/the-hidden-inequality-of-who-dies-in-car-crashes/

[Flying Squirrel]

1. Uh

They're gonna put that all on money and leave out the obvious driving inexperience of the younger drivers? "Adjusted for age" is a bit vague, I'd like to know exactly how they did that. The graphs are just what one would expect, based on average age and corresponding driving experience of each group. Some things are just self-evident.

[packman]

3. Chart points out - age 25 or older

Has NOTHING to do with inexperience, has to do with education and the resultant fallout from education albeit high school or less or advanced degrees. In other words, the more educated you are the odds increase that you will not be involved in a fatal crash due to where you live, medical care, car safety equipment, and even road care.

[Throd]

2. Maybe people with less education have riskier driving habits?

[PowerToThePeople]

4. This was my initial thought.

[Bonx]

14. Are we allowed to think that ?

Feelings could be hurt.

[pintobean]

18. Why would that be?

[Throd]

20. Acquiring higher education requires responsibility and self-restraint.

Qualities also found in safer driving.

[pintobean]

21. So does supporting a family

or joining the military. Probably more so than attending college.

[Throd]

22. I would wager that responsible parents have fewer accidents too, regardless of income.

I have lived in both low and high income neighborhoods. The people in the low income neighborhood seemed to make unwise decisions more frequently.

[Codeine]

5. Less educated people often have much riskier habits.

Seatbelt usage, safe driving techniques, and intoxication are all things that - in my experience - vary greatly by education.

[MindPilot]

13. I would agree.

Also as someone mentioned upthread, since higher education is generally tied to higher income, better cars, better medical care also factor in.

But I'm really amazed at the size of the gaps.

[Gormy Cuss]

19. " Inequality increases were larger in terms of vehicle-miles traveled. "

Quote from the study abstract which suggests to me that long distances traveled for employment etc. are a factor. From other data less education correlates with less income and less income correlates with longer commutes because of housing affordability.

[flamingdem]

6. Also unfair is that heavy SUVs and trucks pulverize

less gas guzzling, cheaper sedans.

[MillennialDem]

10. True, but trucks and SUVs are still less safe (rollovers). Little bit of karma for the jerks who

drive them but don't need them.

[ecstatic]

7. Also car size, unfortunately.

I made the mistake of getting a compact car. Model year 2014. Despite the 5 star safety rating, I've learned that I'm at the mercy of every other car on the road.

https://www.cars.com/articles/2015/01/iihs-late-model-suvs-have-lowest-driver-death-rate-small-cars-have-the-highest/

http://www.informedforlife.org

[MillennialDem]

11. Yep, 5 star is only in reference to its own size class.

[flamingdem]

15. Sorry to hear that and thanks for the article

I think it's one of those things left unstated -- people buy SUVs to survive crashes with smaller cars - and its selfish. This is one thing Europe does well, everyone just about drives a small car.

[Lee-Lee]

8. Newsflash- stupid people make stupid choices, including driving behaviors

Your high school dropouts don't suddenly start making smarter life decisions later in life- they are far more likely to engage in risky driving behaviors and things like DUI.

I made lots of DUI stops when I was a deputy. The vast majority impressed me as just like this chart says- people with minimal education. Sure, I got the occasional doctor, lawyer or teacher- but most were lower class, while trash types.

[Gormy Cuss]

17. News flash -- "while trash" makes no sense

and if you made a typo and meant to write "white trash" please learn the nuances of that term and why use of it is inconsistent with even moderate Democratic views.

[hunter]

9. Crappy jobs and all hours. Then driving sleepy.

That's got to be another contributor.

[packman]

12. Yes, good point I hadn't thought of

[etherealtruth]

16. I have the luxury of reviewing safety ratings and "crash test" data ....

... and choosing my car based on safety (and in my case my preference for a fuel efficient car). People with lower levels of education tend to make less money and do not have the same choices.