Rural–Urban Differences in Risk Factors for Motor Vehicle Fatalities

• Main Authors: Carrie Henning-Smith, Katy B. Kozhimannil
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Mary Ann Liebert 2018-09-01
• Series: Health Equity
• Subjects: motor vehicle fatalities; rural; urban
• Online Access: https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1089/HEQ.2018.0006
• ISSN: 2473-1242

Purpose: To examine rural–urban differences in motor vehicle fatality (MVF) risk factors. Methods: We used 2017 County Health Rankings data to run stratified regression models to estimate county-level correlates of motor vehicle fatalities (MVFs) by rural and urban location. Results: Rural counties have higher rates of MVFs than urban counties (22 vs. 14 per 100,000, p<0.001). Physical inactivity and uninsurance were associated with higher rates of MVFs, as was having a more racially or ethnically concentrated population and larger percentages of younger or older adults. Conclusion: Interventions to reduce MVFs should take geographic location and population composition into account.