According to a new study by Oxford University, poor and less-educated people are more likely to die in a car crash than more affluent victims.

The study, published in the American Journal of Epidemiology on Thursday, examined socioeconomic trends and inequalities in motor vehicle fatalities in the United States between the years 1995 and 2010.

Individuals most likely to die in a car accident were age 25 and over who held less than a high school diploma.

**If this data offends you, please be mad at Oxford University Press for this study - not myself or Townsquare Media (a.k.a. the radio station). 

Death rates in 1995 for the "least educated" individuals were about 2.5 times higher than those who were "most educated." In 2010, the death rate increased to 4.3 times higher, according to the study.

Researchers analyzed mortality data from the National Center for Health Statistics and current population data from the U.S. Census to draw their conclusion. They were able to determine education levels since death certificates indicate that information.

Dr. Sam Harper, a leader of the study, also made it clear it's hard to pinpoint exact reasons for why car accident death rates are higher among the poor. He suggested surrounding factors may contribute, such as poor infrastructure and less traffic signs in low-income neighborhoods.

"It is also well known that individuals of lower socioeconomic status are less likely to buckle up all of the time, which could be one clear reason," said Harper. "Other potential reasons that have received some support in literature are things like owning older cars or cars with fewer safety features, riskier driving habits, less access to high quality trauma centers in the advent of a crash, and generally, less emphasis on preventative behaviors."

On a bright note, car accident fatalities have decreased over the past decade.


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