IV. FINDINGS

Analysis of Counties by Groups

The findings section begins with the description of the counties, programs, and the four groups, using population data presented in Table 9.

Table 9. County Groups by Population (based on 2000 U.S. Census)

Based on budget and census data, including adjusted budget per capita (weighted by proportional representation of total STOP-DWI programs for New York counties), these four groups can be described as:

Group 1 - High Population (>500,000 people). For the 6 most populous New York counties (STOP-DWI programs), these program budgets average $1,508,500 (range $920,000 - $2,419,000) with a mean budget per capita of $0.11.

Group 2 – Moderate High Population (250,000-499,999 people). For these 5 New York counties, program budgets average $761,600 (range $340,000 - $1,058,000) with a mean budget per capita of $0.20.

Group 3 - Moderate Low Population (249,999-100,000 people). For these 12 New York counties, program budgets average $362,083 (range $221,000 - $524,000) with a mean budget per capita of $0.46.

Group 4 - Low Population (<100,000 people). For these 35 New York counties, program budgets average $178,400 (range $16,000 - $443,000) with a mean budget per capita of $1.92.

*Note that as population goes down, the STOP-DWI program budget goes up on a per capita basis.

These four groups, depicted in Figure 10, provide a real world model with characteristics that can be applied by State, county, or local impaired driving programs. Using this approach, a community or program can apply countermeasures appropriate to population and available resources. For example, impaired driving program activities in urban New York may not be applicable in rural Montana. Therefore, presenting activity and outcome data by these four groups is logical and relevant for those interested in comparing impaired-driving program components and activities.

Figure 10. Map of Four Groups, by Population.

Data source(s): United States Census Bureau & National Center for Statistics and Analysis, 2004.

New York has achieved continued success in the reduction of alcohol-related fatalities, as previously presented in Figure 1. This section will examine county level data in detail, and present four county groups that reflect community or regional models for comparison by other programs. For the past 20 years New York State has remained consistent with the national trend of declining alcohol-related fatality rates; however, the State has remained lower than the national average throughout this time period. New York’s fatality rate has decreased from 1.41 in 1982 to 0.36 per 100M VMT in 2002.

This section will briefly describe New York county level data in general and for the four groups. Table 10 summarizes 2001 crash data for New York counties to provide context for the discussion of motor vehicle crash deaths among the four groups.

Table 10. New York County Population (2000) and Motor Vehicle Crash Data (2001).

Data source(s): ITSMR, 2004, New York Department of Motor Vehicles (crash data is 2001 data), United States Census Bureau (2000 data).

Figure 11 presents motor vehicle crash incident and injury data. In general, the numbers of crashes and injury crashes are very similar for all groups, except for the High Population (Urban) group. This data, with the similar exposure data presented in Figure 12, illustrates the significant difference in the Low Population (Rural) group.

Figure 11. Total Motor Vehicle Crashes versus Injury Crashes, by Group, 2000.

Note(s): County Groups: 1=High Population (Above 500,000), 2=Moderate High Population (250,000-500,000), 3=Moderate Low Population (100,000-250,000), and 4=Low Population (Below 100,000).
Data source(s): New York Department of Motor Vehicles, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

In general, the ratio of reportable (police-reported) crashes to crash injuries is 2:1, except for the High Population (Urban) group, where the ratio is ~ 3:1. Crash injuries account for approximately one-third to one-half of all crashes, and the overall number of crash fatalities is relatively small. For all groups, crash deaths represent less than 1 percent of all crashes; however, the highest rate (0.006 fatal crashes/reportable crash) occurs in the Low Population (Rural) group. Fewer deaths occurred in the two Moderate Population groups than in the Low Population (Rural) group.

Scholars agree New York City is unlike any other major American urban area in that there are many licensed drivers who rarely or never use automobiles (due to pedestrians and transit use). Therefore, the numbers reported in the High Population (Urban) group likely do not reflect the actual numbers of motor vehicles and drivers on the roads in that area. Figure 12 displays the number of motor vehicle registrations and licensed drivers by the four groups.

Figure 12. Driver License and Vehicle Registrations, by Group, 2002.

Note(s): County Groups: 1=High Population (Above 500,000), 2=Moderate High Population (250,000-500,000), 3=Moderate Low Population (100,000-250,000), and 4=Low Population (Below 100,000).
Data source: New York Department of Motor Vehicles, 2004.