title: Rural and urban fatal pedestrian crashes among United States American Indians and Alaskan Natives.
abstract: The Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) and the Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS) were used to compare fatal pedestrian crashes in American Indians and Alaskan Natives (AI/AN) between urban and rural locations for 2000-2001. There were significant differences between urban and rural crashes for driver, pedestrian, environmental, and engineering factors. Rural pedestrian crashes more often occurred on highways (p<0.0001) lacking traffic control devices (p<0.0001) and artificial lighting (p<0.0001). Alcohol was a significant cofactor in both environments (40% urban vs. 55% rural; p=0.0239). Prevention of AI/AN deaths should include engineering countermeasures specific to the needs of rural (lighting) and urban (medians with barriers) environments and address drinking behavior in both populations.
authors.affiliation: University of New Mexico, Department of Emergency Medicine, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.
authors.forename: Jonathon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: LaValley
authors.forename: Cameron S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Crandall
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Banks
authors.forename: David P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Sklar
authors.forename: Leverson
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Boodlal
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000401:mortality*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000413:Alaska / Q000208:ethnology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D044382:Population Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*