This article reports on a study undertaken to identify interactions among person, vehicle, and environment factors associated with crashes and injuries among older drivers. In this study, the authors quantified risk factors and interactions for 5,744 drivers over the age of 65 years. The results showed that women had a high crash risk during mornings (8:00 a.m.-1:00p.m. or afternoons (2:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.; however, alcohol-related crashes were the least likely to occur during mornings. The greatest risk for crashes involving another vehicle occurred during afternoons for both male and female drivers. Injuries were associated with fixed-object crashes, not wearing a seatbelt, female gender, and mornings. The authors conclude by calling for further research into the activity demands and physical context related to driving for clients who are at risk for occupational performance problems. They also offer some strategies pertaining to educating women and evaluating their site-specific routes, planning routes to drive during less demanding times of the day, and adhering to safe habits (seatbelt use and not driving after social drinking).
Samenvatting