Mobility impairments in crash-involved older drivers.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate potential associations of impairments in physical function with motor vehicle crash involvement in older drivers.

METHODS

Case participants were randomly selected residents of Mobile County, Alabama, greater or less than 65 years old who had sustained an at-fault motor vehicle crash in 1996. Similarly selected crash-free controls were frequency matched to cases on gender and age. Self-report data on demographic variables, medical conditions, medications, driving exposure, and function were collected by telephone interviewers.

RESULTS

Relative to crash-free subjects, crash-involved drivers were significantly more likely to report difficulty walking one fourth mile and moving outdoors. Marginally significant associations were observed for trouble carrying a heavy object 100 yards and for the occurrence of falls in the prior year. Increasing numbers of functional limitations were directly related to the odds of crash involvement.

DISCUSSION: In comparison to crash-free controls, crash-involved older drivers are more likely to report other mobility-related impairments, possibly including falls.