Driver dependent factors and the risk of causing a collision for two wheeled motor vehicles.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effect of driver dependent factors on the risk of causing a collision for two wheeled motor vehicles (TWMVs).


METHODS
Case control study.


METHODS
Spain, from 1993 to 2002.


METHODS
All drivers of TWMVs involved in the 181 551 collisions between two vehicles recorded in the Spanish registry which did not involve pedestrians, and in which at least one of the vehicles was a TWMV and only one driver had committed a driving infraction. The infractor and non-infractor drivers constituted the case and control groups, respectively.


METHODS
Logistic regression analyses were used to obtain crude and adjusted odds ratio estimates for each of the driver related factors recorded in the registry (age, sex, nationality, psychophysical factors, and speeding infractions, among others).


RESULTS
Inappropriate speed was the variable with the greatest influence on the risk of causing a collision, followed by excessive speed and driving under the influence of alcohol. Younger and older drivers, foreign drivers, and driving without a valid license were also associated with a higher risk of causing a collision. In contrast, helmet use, female sex, and longer time in possession of a driving license were associated with a lower risk.


CONCLUSIONS
Although the main driver dependent factors related to the risk of causing a collision for a TWMV were similar to those documented for four wheeled vehicles, several differences in the pattern of associations support the need to study moped and motorcycle crashes separately from crashes involving other types of vehicles.
Lardelli-Claret
P
P
Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Campus de Cartuja s/n, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain. lardelli@ugr.es
Jiménez-Moleón
J J
JJ
de Dios Luna-del-Castillo
J
J
García-Martín
M
M
Bueno-Cavanillas
A
A
Gálvez-Vargas
R
R
D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects; D001334:Automobile Driving; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008004:Licensure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009049:Motorcycles; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking