Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #119045

Shahram Loftipour, University of California School of Public Health, Box 951772, 26-070C CHS, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1772, (310) 825-8508, ccrimmins@asph.org

Introduction: The older adult driving population (over 65) is increasing at a rapid pace. As drivers age, confidence in driving as well as confidence in driving while intoxicated has been found to increase. This study was conducted to determine the effects of alcohol on older drivers involved in motor vehicle collisions. Methods: Orange County collision data of 23,239 older drivers from Statewide Integrated Traffic Reporting Systems (SWITRS, 1998-2002) was evaluated based on five categories of inebriation: Had Not Been Drinking- 21,967 collisions (94.5%), Driving Under the Influence (DUI)- 259 (1.1%), Had Been Drinking not DUI- 111 (0.5 %), Not Known- 441 (1.9%), and Not Specified- 403 (1.7%). Results: Older DUI drivers account for 1.1 percent of collisions, moreover, the percentage decreases as age increases. Additionally, collision frequency of older DUI drivers seems to increase during weekends and between the hours of 11:00 pm and 4:00 am. Furthermore, older drivers who had consumed legal amounts of alcohol are at fault 79% of the time, while those who had not consumed alcohol are at fault only 51% of the time. DUI drivers are found at fault 93 % of the time. Conclusion: Collisions of older drivers under the influence of alcohol make up an insignificant percentage of collisions. Furthermore, collision trends of older DUI drivers seem to indicate a higher number of collisions during weekends. Lastly, as alcohol levels increase, the likelihood that older drivers will be determined at fault in collisions also increases.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this presentation, the participant should be able to

• To understand the effects alcohol impairment on older drivers involved in motor vehicle collisions
• To understand the collision patters of impaired older drivers involved in motor vehicle collisions.

Keywords: Alcohol, Elderly

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.