title: Frequent falling and motor vehicle collision involvement of older drivers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the relationship between frequent falls in older drivers and motor vehicle collision (MVC) involvement.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional.
  
  
  METHODS
  North central Alabama.
  
  
  METHODS
  Population-based sample of 2,000 licensed drivers aged 70 and older.
  
  
  METHODS
  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).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Center for Clinical and Translational Science, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama; Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama.
authors.forename: Carrie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Huisingh
authors.forename: Gerald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: McGwin
authors.forename: Katherine A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Orman
authors.forename: Cynthia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Owsley
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000368:Aged; D000407:Alabama / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: aging; driver safety; falls