Older drivers’ risks of at-fault motor vehicle collisions

Motor vehicle collision reports filed by police officers may be useful in investigating driver behavior and identifying potential causal attributes of accident involvement. Inattention and misjudgment were two options appearing on police reports to explain the cause of motor vehicle collisions in Hawai'i from 1986 to 1991. Examination of all crash reports (n = 218,718) revealed that inattention and misjudgment are serious problems for older drivers (65 years and older, n = 14,179). For instance, for the 75 to 84 year old drivers involved in collisions (n = 3659), 36% were classified as inattentive and 22% were identified as having misjudgment errors in driving; for the 85 and older drivers (n = 340), these percentages were 41 and 22, respectively. Of the collisions involving older drivers, 48% were at intersections. Reports of inattention and misjudgments were highest at dusk and dawn compared to other times of the day and night. Among the rear-end collisions, 65% of the older rear-enders were inattentive drivers. Strong associations of inattentive older drivers were found with being a broadsider (49%), side-swiper (45%) and headoner. Misjudgments among older drivers were most associated with being a side-swiper (41% from the opposite direction and 37% from the same direction). Regarding vehicle maneuvers prior to the crash, inattention was associated with right turns on red (61%), U-turns (57%), starting from park (56%), backing (56%), changing lanes (48%), merging (45%), and making left turns (40%). Misjudgment errors were most likely to occur when overtaking (44%), parking (41%), making left turns (39%), and changing lanes (39%). Dangerous actions common among inattentive older drivers included disregarding traffic controls (72%), following too closely (67%), going the wrong way (54%), failing to yield (52%), improper turns (48%), and speeding (45%). Older drivers classified as having misjudgments were most likely to be involved in improper overtaking (46%), failure to yield (41%), and improper turns (39%).

Download Full-text

Cognitive training for older drivers can reduce the frequency of involvement in motor vehicle collisions

Evidence-Based Mental Health ◽

10.1136/ebmh1158 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 14 (2) ◽

pp. 52-52 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

M. Bedard ◽

B. Weaver

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Training ◽

Motor Vehicle ◽

Older Drivers ◽

Motor Vehicle Collisions ◽

Vehicle Collisions

Download Full-text

Case Exercise: Biomechanics in Rearend Motor Vehicle Collisions

Guides Newsletter ◽

10.1001/amaguidesnewsletters.2007.mayjun02 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 12 (3) ◽

pp. 4-7

Author(s):

Charles N. Brooks ◽

Christopher R. Brigham

Keyword(s):

Motor Vehicle ◽

Body Position ◽

Motor Vehicle Collisions ◽

Time Curve ◽

Vehicle Collisions ◽

Need For Treatment ◽

Multiple Factors ◽

Bodily Injury ◽

Vehicle Collision ◽

Physical Findings

Abstract Multiple factors determine the likelihood, type, and severity of bodily injury following a motor vehicle collision and, in turn, influence the need for treatment, extent of disability, and likelihood of permanent impairment. Among the most important factors is the change in velocity due to an impact (Δv). Other factors include the individual's strength and elasticity, body position at the time of impact, awareness of the impending impact (ie, opportunity to brace, guard, or contract muscles before an impact), and effects of braking. Because Δv is the area under the acceleration vs time curve, it combines force and duration and is a useful way to quantify impact severity. The article includes a table showing the results of a literature review that concluded, “the consensus of human subject research conducted to date is that a single exposure to a rear-end impact with a Δv of 5 mph or less is unlikely to result in injury” in most healthy, restrained occupants. Because velocity incorporates direction as well as speed, a vehicular occupant is less likely to be injured in a rear impact than when struck from the side. Evaluators must consider multiple factors, including the occupant's pre-existing physical and psychosocial status, the mechanism and magnitude of the collision, and a variety of biomechanical variables. Recommendations based solely on patient history and physical findings (and, perhaps, imaging studies) may be ill-informed.

Download Full-text

105: Renal Injury Mechanisms in Motor Vehicle Collisions: Analysis of the Crash Injury Research and Engineering Network (CIREN) Dataset

The Journal of Urology ◽

10.1016/s0022-5347(18)30370-7 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 177 (4S) ◽

pp. 37-37

Author(s):

James K. Kuan ◽

Robert Kaufman ◽

Jonathan L. Wright ◽

Charles Mock ◽

Avery B. Nathens ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Renal Injury ◽

Motor Vehicle ◽

Motor Vehicle Collisions ◽

Vehicle Collisions ◽

Injury Mechanisms ◽

Injury Research

Download Full-text

Motor Vehicle Collisions and Their Demographics: A 5-Year Retrospective Study of the Hamilton-Wentworth Niagara Region

Journal of Forensic Sciences ◽

10.1111/j.1556-4029.2008.00723.x ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 53 (3) ◽

pp. 709-715 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Carolyne E. Lemieux ◽

John R. Fernandes ◽

Chitra Rao

Keyword(s):

Retrospective Study ◽

Motor Vehicle ◽

Motor Vehicle Collisions ◽

Vehicle Collisions

Download Full-text

A comparison of the demographics, injury patterns and outcome data for patients injured in motor vehicle collisions who are trapped compared to those patients who are not trapped

Scandinavian Journal of Trauma Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine ◽

10.1186/s13049-020-00818-6 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 29 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Tim Nutbeam ◽

Rob Fenwick ◽

Jason Smith ◽

Omar Bouamra ◽

Lee Wallis ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Blood Loss ◽

Injury Severity ◽

Spinal Cord Injuries ◽

Motor Vehicle ◽

Tension Pneumothorax ◽

Research Network ◽

Motor Vehicle Collisions ◽

Vehicle Collisions ◽

Time Critical

Abstract Background Motor vehicle collisions (MVCs) are a common cause of major trauma and death. Following an MVC, up to 40% of patients will be trapped in their vehicle. Extrication methods are focused on the prevention of secondary spinal injury through movement minimisation and mitigation. This approach is time consuming and patients may have time-critical injuries. The purpose of this study is to describe the outcomes and injuries of those trapped following an MVC: this will help guide meaningful patient-focused interventions and future extrication strategies. Methods We undertook a retrospective database study using the Trauma Audit and Research Network database. Patients were included if they were admitted to an English hospital following an MVC from 2012 to 2018. Patients were excluded when their outcomes were not known or if they were secondary transfers. Results This analysis identified 426,135 cases of which 63,625 patients were included: 6983 trapped and 56,642 not trapped. Trapped patients had a higher mortality (8.9% vs 5.0%, p < 0.001). Spinal cord injuries were rare (0.71% of all extrications) but frequently (50.1%) associated with other severe injuries. Spinal cord injuries were more common in patients who were trapped (p < 0.001). Injury Severity Score (ISS) was higher in the trapped group 18 (IQR 10–29) vs 13 (IQR 9–22). Trapped patients had more deranged physiology with lower blood pressures, lower oxygen saturations and lower Glasgow Coma Scale, GCS (all p < 0.001). Trapped patients had more significant injuries of the head chest, abdomen and spine (all p < 0.001) and an increased rate of pelvic injures with significant blood loss, blood loss from other areas or tension pneumothorax (all p < 0.001). Conclusion Trapped patients are more likely to die than those who are not trapped. The frequency of spinal cord injuries is low, accounting for < 0.7% of all patients extricated. Patients who are trapped are more likely to have time-critical injuries requiring intervention. Extrication takes time and when considering the frequency, type and severity of injuries reported here, the benefit of movement minimisation may be outweighed by the additional time taken. Improved extrication strategies should be developed which are evidence-based and allow for the expedient management of other life-threatening injuries.

Download Full-text