title: Traffic law knowledge disparity between Hispanics and non-Hispanic whites in California.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Hispanic population is one group that is involved in a disproportionately high percentage of fatal motor vehicle collisions in the United States.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated demographic factors contributing to a lack of knowledge and awareness of traffic laws among Hispanic drivers involved in motor vehicle collisions (MVCs) in southern California.
  
  
  METHODS
  The cross-sectional study enrolled adults (n = 190) involved in MVCs presenting to a Level I trauma center in southern California over a 7-month period. Subjects completed a survey about California traffic law knowledge (TLK) consisting of eight multiple-choice questions. The mean number of questions answered correctly was compared between groups defined by demographic data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean number of TLK questions answered correctly by Hispanic and non-Hispanic white groups were significantly different at 4.13 and 4.62, respectively (p = 0.005; 95% confidence interval -0.83 to -0.15). Scores were significantly lower in subjects who were not fluent in English, had less than a high school education, did not possess a current driver's license, and received their TLK from sources other than a driver's education class or Department of Motor Vehicle materials. Analysis of variance showed that the source of knowledge was the strongest predictor of accurate TLK.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Source of TLK is a major contributing factor to poor TLK in Hispanics. An emphasis on culturally specific traffic law education is needed.
authors.affiliation: Division of Emergency Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Kenton L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Chirag V
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vaca
authors.forename: Craig L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Rosemarie
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mendoza
authors.forename: Renee L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Barton
authors.forename: Michael E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Lekawa
authors.forename: Wirachin
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hoonpongsimanont
authors.forename: Shahram
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lotfipour
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D002140:California; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D044465:White People