title: The increased risk of road crashes in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) adult drivers: driven by distraction? Results from a responsibility case-control study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Both distractions (external and internal) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are serious risk factors for traffic crashes and injuries. However, it is still unknown if ADHD (a chronic condition) modifies the effect of distractions (irregular hazards) on traffic crashes. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of distractions and ADHD on traffic crash responsibility.
  
  
  METHODS
  A responsibility case-control study was conducted in the adult emergency department of Bordeaux University Hospital, France. Subjects were recruited among drivers injured in a motor vehicle crash between April 2010 and August 2011. Responsibility levels were estimated using a standardized method. Frequencies of exposures were compared between drivers responsible and drivers not responsible for the crash. Independent risk factors were identified using a multivariate logistic regression including test interactions between distractions and ADHD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 777 subjects were included in the analysis. Factors associated with responsibility were distraction induced by an external event (adjusted OR (aOR) = 1.47; 95% confidence interval (CI) [1.06-2.05]), distraction induced by an internal thought (aOR = 2.38; CI: [1.50-3.77]) and ADHD (aOR = 2.18 CI: [1.22-3.88]). The combined effect of ADHD and external distractions was strongly associated with responsibility for the crash (aOR = 5.79 CI: [2.06-16.32]). Interaction assessment showed that the attributable proportion due to the interaction among participants with both exposures was 68%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adults with ADHD are a population at higher risk of being responsible for a road traffic crash when exposed to external distractions. This result reinforces the need to diagnose adult ADHD and to include road safety awareness messages delivered by the physician. Developing advanced driver assistance systems devoted to the management of attention lapses is also increasingly relevant for these drivers.
authors.affiliation: ISPED, Centre INSERM U897-Epidemiologie-Biostatistique, University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France; INSERM, Equipe Prévention et prise en charge des traumatismes, ISPED, Centre INSERM U897-Epidemiologie-Biostatistique, Bordeaux, France.
authors.forename: Kamal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: El Farouki
authors.affiliation: ISPED, Centre INSERM U897-Epidemiologie-Biostatistique, University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France; INSERM, Equipe Prévention et prise en charge des traumatismes, ISPED, Centre INSERM U897-Epidemiologie-Biostatistique, Bordeaux, France.
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lagarde
authors.affiliation: ISPED, Centre INSERM U897-Epidemiologie-Biostatistique, University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France; INSERM, Equipe Prévention et prise en charge des traumatismes, ISPED, Centre INSERM U897-Epidemiologie-Biostatistique, Bordeaux, France.
authors.forename: Ludivine
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Orriols
authors.affiliation: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Charles Perrens Hospital, University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France.
authors.forename: Manuel-Pierre
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Bouvard
authors.affiliation: ISPED, Centre INSERM U897-Epidemiologie-Biostatistique, University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France; INSERM, Equipe Prévention et prise en charge des traumatismes, ISPED, Centre INSERM U897-Epidemiologie-Biostatistique, Bordeaux, France.
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Contrand
authors.affiliation: ISPED, Centre INSERM U897-Epidemiologie-Biostatistique, University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France; INSERM, Equipe Prévention et prise en charge des traumatismes, ISPED, Centre INSERM U897-Epidemiologie-Biostatistique, Bordeaux, France; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Charles Perrens Hospital, University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France.
authors.forename: Cédric
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Galéra
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult