Impairment, distraction, and strong emotional states are linked to crashes in a naturalistic study of actual accidents.
Considering the high levels of morbidity and mortality from motor vehicle accidents, we need to be aware of risk factors, especially those we can modify. This fascinating study analyzed naturalistic driving data in more than 3500 participants (age range, 16–98) who agreed to be monitored with multiple cameras, sensors, and radar.
Impairment was identified from a 20-second video segment immediately preceding the accident. Overall impairment (apparent drug/alcohol impairment; drowsiness/fatigue; emotion) — observed in 1.92% of baseline segments of ordinary, noncrash driving — increased crash risk by 5.2 times. Some findings of increased risk were expected: driver judgment error (e.g., speeding; odds ratio, 11.1); driver performance error (e.g.…
Reviewing Author
DisclosuresRoyaltiesTextbook of Traumatic Brain Injury, 2nd and 3rd editions
Editorial BoardsUpToDate; Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience
Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesNorth American Brain Injury Association (Board Member); National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (Chair of Data Monitoring Safety Board for study of donepezil on cognition after traumatic brain injury)
DisclosuresRoyaltiesTextbook of Traumatic Brain Injury, 2nd and 3rd editions
Editorial BoardsUpToDate; Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience
Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesNorth American Brain Injury Association (Board Member); National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (Chair of Data Monitoring Safety Board for study of donepezil on cognition after traumatic brain injury)