Comparison of Self-Reported Crashes, State Crash Records and an On-Road Driving Assessment in a Population-Based Sample of Drivers Aged 69-95 Years

Abstract

Objective : The study evaluated associations between outcome measures used in driving research including self-reported crashes, state crash records, and an on-road driving test (ORT).

Method : A total of 750 community dwelling participants aged 69 to 95 were recruited via the electoral roll into a study on injury prevention. Of these, 509 were drivers, and data on self-reported crashes, and either state crash records, or an on-road assessment were available for 488. Crash history data were obtained from state records (five-year retrospective and twelve-month prospective), retrospective self-report (five-year) and prospective monthly injury diaries (twelve months). A subsample completed an on-road driving test.

Results: During the last five years, 22.3% reported a crash, 10.0% reported a crash in the twelve-month follow-up period, 3.2% of the sample had state crash records during the previous five years, and 0.6% had state-recorded crashes during the twelve-month follow-up period. State crash records did not agree with any other outcome measure. Those who scored 5 or less on the ORT were more likely to report a crash in the past five years (55.4% vs. 36.8%; p = .009). Results did not differ when participants with probable dementia were excluded (n = 2).

Conclusion : The results suggest that caution should be applied when using state crash records as an outcome measure in driving research and suggest that in the Australian context, retrospective self-reported crashes over five years are preferable when objective measures of driving performance are unavailable.

Keywords:

• Driving safety
• On-road driving performance
• Validity
• Ageing
• Self-reports

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

This study was supported by a POPI (Prevention of Older Person's Injuries) grant from the NHMRC Health Research Partnership Scheme and NRMA Insurance. We thank the Road Traffic Authority of New South Wales and Queensland, Anne Tiedemann, Marcella Kwan, Kate Plumb, and Lesley Ross. The authors also thank Alex Black, Mei Boon, Michael Cole, Roger Martin, Melissa Newton, Matthew Roodevelt, Jocelyn Stewart, Oren Tirosh, and Paul Turner for assistance in laboratory-based data collection; and Ivor Booker and Kerry Mallon for assessing driving performance. The authors thank all of the participants who gave so generously of their time.

Notes

^a N = 488

^b N = 472

^c N = 473