Motor vehicle crashes and violations among drivers with multiple sclerosis.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate differences in the incidence of motor vehicle crashes (MVCs) and violations among drivers with multiple sclerosis (MS) when cognitive impairment is present.

DESIGN

Archival evaluation of Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) records.

SETTING

Medical rehabilitation research organization.

PARTICIPANTS

Community-dwelling drivers, 27 subjects with documented MS (14 MS without cognitive impairment [MS-], 13 MS with cognitive impairment [MS+]) and 17 healthy control subjects, matched on age, sex, and driving experience.

INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Incidence of MVCs and motor vehicle violations as documented by DMV reports for the past 5 years.

RESULTS

MS+ subjects showed a higher incidence of MVCs when compared with control and MS- subjects. No significant difference in the incidence of motor vehicle violations was observed between groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The presence of cognitive impairment in drivers with MS can result in an increased risk of MVC involvement.