Risks Associated with Causing a Traffic Accident and Differences of Prognostic due to a Reason for Driving Cessation among Older Drivers

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K18951
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 58030:Hygiene and public health-related: excluding laboratory approach
• Research Institution: International University of Health and Welfare (2021-2023); National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology (2020)
• Principal Investigator: Ishii Hideaki 国際医療福祉大学, 成田保健医療学部, 講師 (50751046)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 高齢者 / 自動車運転 / 交通事故 / 中止

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this longitudinal study was to identify traffic accident incidence rate, risk factors of causing traffic accidents, reasons for driving cessation, and differences in subsequent prognosis in older drivers. Among those who were driving, we investigated several factors related to traffic accidents. Our results showed that factors including history of falls, current driving time, cognitive impairment, and history of traffic accidents in the past two years were the risks of causing a traffic accident. In addition, incident disability were significantly higher in the older who stopped driving compared to those who continued to drive. The most common reason for driving cessation during the follow-up period was the recommendation from family members. A comparison regarding the number of incident disability among different reasons for driving cessation demonstrated that the recommendation from family and an occurrence of disease/worsening of symptoms were the highest.

Free Research Field

老年医学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究より、交通事故には様々な要因が関連することが明らかとなった。また、運転をやめる理由とやめた理由による要介護発生率の比較では、他者からの勧めが最も影響する可能性が示唆された。以上のことより、交通事故に関連する要因を今後スクリーニングして事故を予防するとともに、運転をやめても要介護状態にならないように、理由に応じた対策を行っていく必要があると考えられる。