Roadway Aggression Among Drivers and Passengers With or Without a History of Traumatic Brain Injury.

OBJECTIVE

This study examined the association between roadway aggression and traumatic brain injury (TBI) among drivers and passengers who reside in the province of Ontario, Canada.

METHODS

Data were based on a 3-year cumulated cross-sectional sample of 6,048 adults aged 18 years and older who were surveyed by telephone. The outcome in this study was road rage in the form of verbal/gestural or physical aggression toward other road users and/or their vehicle.

RESULTS

Driving status, history of TBI, age, gender, education, and the interaction between history of TBI and education significantly predicted roadway aggression. Odds ratios (ORs) for roadway aggression were significantly higher among drivers ( OR= 2.65) compared to passengers, between 2 and 4.5 times higher among individuals aged 18-64 years old compared to those older than 65 years, higher among adults with TBI (OR = 2.05) than without, and men (OR = 1.54) than women. Among respondents with lowest, but not highest, levels of education, roadway aggression was predicted by a history of TBI.

CONCLUSION

This is the first population-based study to compare rates of roadway aggression between drivers and passengers with and without TBI. Research to understand these differences will be important for roadway aggression prevention efforts and policy.