Roadway crash risks in recent immigrants

Adult immigrants are sometimes characterized as unsafe drivers and responsible for excess road crashes. We analyzed Canada's largest and most ethnically diverse province to assess whether recent immigrants had an increased risk of involvement as drivers in serious motor vehicle crashes. Overall, the study included 4,238,222 individuals followed for a median duration of 8.0 years. In total, 10,975 individuals were subsequently admitted to hospital as drivers involved in a crash, with a rate per 100,000 significantly lower among recent immigrants compared to long-term residents (158 vs 289, p < 0.001). This difference was equal to a 45% relative reduction in the incidence of a crash (odds ratio = 0.55, 95% confidence interval 0.52–0.58), persisted after adjustment for baseline characteristics (hazard ratio = 0.61, 95% confidence interval 0.58–0.65), extended to extremes of crash severity, and was accentuated during initial years following immigration. These findings suggest that, contrary to popular opinion, recent immigrants are less prone to be drivers in serious motor vehicle crashes.

► Recent immigrants are sometimes characterized as unsafe drivers and responsible for excess road crashes.
► This study examined almost one million immigrants to one of the most ethnically diverse regions of North America.
► The findings suggest that recent immigrants are less likely to be drivers involved in a serious motor vehicle crash compared to long-term residents.
► These results call into question common risk perceptions and a widespread negative stereotype.
► The differences in crash risks are unlikely to reflect differences in diet, genetics, or language that would be difficult for an adult to change.