Highlights Data from three French national databases were extracted and matched. Exposures were compared between responsible and nonresponsible drivers. Exposures referred to chronic conditions registered in the French healthcare database. The results update the list of medical conditions that may impair driving skills. The increased risk in asthmatics is new information.

    Abstract Objective To assess the population impact of chronic conditions on the risk of road traffic crashes. Methods Data from three French national databases were extracted and matched: the national health care insurance database, police reports and the national police database of injurious crashes. Exposure to chronic conditions were compared between responsible and nonresponsible drivers. Analysis was performed using the Lasso (least absolute shrinkage and selection operator) method. Results 69,630 drivers involved in an injurious crash in France between 2005 and 2008, were included. 6210 (8.9%) were suffering from at least one long-term disease. When adjusted for prescription of medicines, blood alcohol, demographic driver characteristics and crash characteristics, increased risk of being responsible for a crash was found in drivers registered in the French healthcare database with the following long-term diseases: epilepsy (odds ratio [OR]=2.53 [1.53–4.20]), type 1 diabetes (OR=1.47) [1.12–1.92], alcoholic liver disease (OR=3.37 [1.40–8.13]), asthma (OR=1.72 [1.13–2.60]) and specific personality disorders (OR=1.35 [1.05–1.74]). No association was found for cardiovascular diseases or Alzheimer's disease. Conclusion The results update the list of medical conditions that may impair driving skills. However, results should be considered cautiously with regards to potential regulatory driving judgments that could have a negative impact on patients’ social life.


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    Title :

    Long-term chronic diseases and crash responsibility: A record linkage study



    Published in:

    Publication date :

    2014-05-01


    Size :

    7 pages




    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English