The driving performance of a healthy control group is compared with two groups of drivers diagnosed with cardiovascular disease, one of which was known to Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI) through its medical review program (the "program group") and one which was not known to SGI (the "non-program group). Non-program and program drivers were identified by at least one physician or hospital visit for cardiovascular diseaese. Control drivers had not been diagnosed with the conditions or any of nine other conditions included in SGI's larger study of medical impairments to driving. Non-program and program drivers diagnosed with cardiovascular disease consistently performeed worse than contral drivers in so-called "at fault" crashes in which the driver's condition or action was considered to be a major contributing factor. Medical review program participation was associated with a considerable improvement in at-fault crash experience. (A)
Abstract