Waller's paper is discussed, and his review of medical conditions and the risk of motor vehicle accidents (mva) is extended using principles derived from geriatrics, gerontology, and health services research. Three approaches are suggested. The medical model uses discrete diseases as risk factors, but despite its utility and appeal, this model does not suffficiently characterize health and functional status to be the sole approach, and future investigative efforts should at least consider severity of illness concepts. The functional status model emphasizes a functional and physiological approach to health status, but despite its successful application in geriatiric assessments and its investigative promise, functional status can be difficult to measure and has not been validated in relation to mva risk. A behavioral model is considered, and within that framework, the relation of depressive and other emotional illnesses as well as social vitality to driving patterns and mva occurrence is considered.
Abstract