Self-harm and risk of motor vehicle crashes among young drivers: findings from the DRIVE Study.
BACKGROUND
Some motor vehicle crashes, particularly single-vehicle crashes, may result from intentional self-harm. We conducted a prospective cohort study to assess the risk that intentional self-harm poses for motor vehicle crashes among young drivers.


METHODS
We prospectively linked survey data from newly licensed drivers aged 17-24 years to data on licensing attempts and police-reported motor vehicle crashes during the follow-up period. We investigated the role of recent engagement in self-harm on the risk of a crash. We took into account potential confounders, including number of hours of driving per week, psychological symptoms and substance abuse.


RESULTS
We included 18 871 drivers who participated in the DRIVE Study for whom data on self-harm and motor vehicle crashes were available. The mean follow-up was 2 years. Overall, 1495 drivers had 1 or more crashes during the follow-up period. A total of 871 drivers (4.6%) reported that they had engaged in self-harm in the year before the survey. These drivers were at significantly increased risk of a motor vehicle crash compared with drivers who reported no self-harm (relative risk [RR] 1.42, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.15-1.76). The risk remained significant, even after adjustment for age, sex, average hours of driving per week, previous crash, psychological distress, duration of sleep, risky driving behaviour, substance use, remoteness of residence and socio-economic status (RR 1.37, 95% CI 1.09-1.72). Most of the drivers who reported self-harm and had a subsequent crash were involved in a multiple-vehicle crash (84.1% [74/88]).


CONCLUSIONS
Engagement in self-harm behaviour was an independent risk factor for subsequent motor vehicle crash among young drivers, with most crashes involving multiple vehicles.
Martiniuk
Alexandra L C
AL
George Institute for International Health, PO Box M201, Camperdown NSW 2050, Australia. amartiniuk@george.org.au
Ivers
Rebecca Q
RQ
Glozier
Nick
N
Patton
George C
GC
Lam
Lawrence T
LT
Boufous
Soufiane
S
Senserrick
Teresa
T
Williamson
Ann
A
Stevenson
Mark
M
Norton
Robyn
R
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000523:psychology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000523:psychology; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D016012:Poisson Distribution; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012307:Risk Factors; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D012890:Sleep; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult