%0 Journal Article
%T Frequent falling and motor vehicle collision involvement of older drivers
%J Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
%D 2014
%A Huisingh, Carrie
%A McGwin, Gerald
%A Orman, Katherine A.
%A Owsley, Cynthia
%V 62
%N 1
%P 123-129
%X OBJECTIVES: To examine the relationship between frequent falls in older drivers and motor vehicle collision (MVC) involvement. DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING: North central Alabama. PARTICIPANTS: Population-based sample of 2,000 licensed drivers aged 70 and older. MEASUREMENTS: Self-reported history of falling two or more times in the prior year was the main predictor. Outcomes were any MVC or at-fault MVC in the prior year. RESULTS: Approximately 9% of older drivers reported having fallen two or more times in the prior year. Logistic regression models indicated that frequent falling was associated with having any MVC (crude odds ratio (OR) = 1.53, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.77-3.02) and an at-fault MVC (OR = 2.21, 95% CI = 0.97-5.06). Adjustment for the potentially confounding effects of demographic, health, visual, and driving characteristics did not meaningfully affect the association with any MVC, whereas the association with at-fault MVC was weakened (adjusted OR = 2.03, 95% CI = 0.84-4.90). CONCLUSION: Frequent falling was associated with at-fault MVC involvement of older drivers, especially whites. History of falling can be used to identify individuals at risk of MVC involvement and to begin a dialogue about driver safety.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>
%G en
%I John Wiley and Sons
%@ 0002-8614
%U http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jgs.12594