Automobile Safety

Aka: Automobile Safety, Cellular Phone Use While Driving, Impaired Driving, Drugged Driving, Drunk Driving

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II. Epidemiology

  1. Motor Vehicle Accidents are the leading cause of death in the U.S. for ages 5 to 29 years

III. Risk Factors: Impaired Driving

  1. Substance Abuse
  2. Night Workers
  3. Polypharmacy

IV. Causes: Cellular Phone Use While Driving

  1. Relative Risk of Motor Vehicle Accident: 4.0 (n=699)
  2. References
    1. Redelmeier (1997) N Engl J Med 336:453-8 [PubMed]
      1. Case crossover study with possible biases in study

V. Causes: Medications causing Impaired Driving (Drugged Driving)

  1. See Medication Use in the Elderly (e.g. Beers List)
  2. Substance Abuse or Chemical Intoxication (e.g. Alcohol, Marijuana, Methamphetamine, Cocaine)
  3. Highest risk prescription medications
    1. Barbiturates
    2. Benzodiazepines
    3. Muscle relaxants
    4. Opioids
    5. Benzodiazepines
    6. Sedative-Hypnotics (e.g. Ambien)
  4. Other sedating medications
    1. Anticonvulsants
    2. Antipsychotics
    3. Antiparkinsonism medications

VI. Causes: Medical Conditions causing Impaired Driving

  1. Exercise particular caution in older patients
    1. See Medication Use in the Elderly (e.g. Beers List)
  2. Obstructive Sleep Apnea
  3. Diabetes Mellitus and Hypoglycemia
  4. Insomnia
  5. Seizure Disorder
    1. Most U.S. states require no driving for 3-12 months since last Seizure
    2. http://www.epilepsy.com/driving-laws

VII. References

  1. (2017) Presc Lett 25(1): 4

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