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An examination between single-parent family background and drunk driving in adulthood: findings from the Northern Finland 1966 Birth Cohort.

BACKGROUND: It has been suggested earlier that parental loss could be an important risk factor for alcoholism in adulthood. We explored the association between different types of childhood families with later alcohol-related problems of the offspring, in particular drunk driving. METHODS: We used a large, prospectively collected general population birth cohort database (n = 10,934), the Northern Finland 1966 Birth Cohort. Linked with the National crime register, it provided information on drunk driving offenses known to the police that involved persons 15 to 32 years of age (n = 432). Type of family was categorized into five subgroups: two-parent family and four types of single-parent families (single-parent all the time, single-parent at birth, parental death, parental divorce). The information about family type was obtained from questionnaires given to the mothers during mid-pregnancy and at the time of the 14-year follow-up. RESULTS: Single-parent family during childhood significantly increased the risk of drunk driving in adulthood among both males and females. Males who were born in single-mother families were at the highest risk of drunk driving offenses in adulthood (adjusted OR 2.4; 95% CI 1.4-4.2). The association between single-parent family and drunk driving among males was seen in all types of single-parent families except for parental death. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that growing up in a single-parent family is a potentially powerful predictor of adult alcohol-related problems, i.e., early-onset, late-onset, and recidivistic drunk driving.

Adolescent↗

[Cognitive functions and driving ability of older drivers].

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the study was to test older drivers applying for a renewal of their driver's license for cognitive impairment and to examine the outcome of a subsequent driving test. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients registered with general practitioners (GPs) in the County of Southern Jutland, who applied for a renewal of their driver's license because of age, participated in the study. Data were collected from a questionnaire sent to GPs and from driving license certificates. The test used m-mini mental state (m-MMSE) for registration of cognitive functioning was a short version of MMSE. The number of recommended driving tests and the results of the driving test were compared during a period before and after the test was used, and compared with the result of the m-MMSE. A total of 6,091 elderly participated in the study, 2,631 before and 3,460 after the introduction of the test. In addition a semi-structured telephone interview with a random sample of the participating GPs was carried out. RESULTS: The use of m-MMSE resulted in significantly more older drivers being recommended a driving test and significantly fewer having their driver's license renewed. Of the older drivers who were recommended a driving test and did not have their driver's license renewed, 83% and 60% had impaired cognitive functioning. The majority (95%) of the GPs considered the test to be a useful tool in general practice. DISCUSSION: The results show that the use of m-MMSE when older drivers apply for renewal of their driver's license because of age, led to fewer older drivers having their driver's license renewed, and that most of them have impaired cognitive functioning. The test is suitable for general practice.

Accidents, Traffic↗

International policies on alcohol impaired driving: are legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limits in motorized countries compatible with the scientific evidence?

Borkenstein et al. (1974) study indicated that drivers with BACs of 0.05 to 0.09 per cent were twice as likely to crash as drivers with a zero BAC. Drivers with BACs from 0.10 to 0.14 per cent were ten times as likely to have a fatal crash in 1964. There have been numerous efforts during the history of motorized countries to control the consumption of alcohol and the problems associated with it through legislative mandate, it was not until the 1970s that acceptance of legal BAC (Blood Alcohol Concentration) limits laws became widespread. In particular, as more and more people drive automobiles, the number of traffic accidents involving drunken drivers has soared, and many of these are known to be related to the consumption of alcohol. Thus, legislators find themselves under increasing pressure to find a reasonable and fair solution to the question of alcohol impaired driving, as the scientific evidence about alcohol consumption level and psycho motor functions impairment came to clear. A landmark event in the development of policies regarding impaired driving was the establishment of the fact that consumption of alcohol does, in fact, increase the probability of traffic crashes. Legal limit laws specify a maximum permissible BAC limit for drivers. Currently, a BAC laws range from zero tolerance and 0.02 to 0.10% constitutes prima facie evidence in most countries for 'Driving under Influence of Alcohol.' This latter standard is too permissive, as driving skills deteriorate and crash involvement risk increases beginning at 0.02%. There are consequences attached to setting a BAC limit so high that a 72 kg man can drink five bottles of beer and still be under legal limit. In this sense high legal BAC limit may influence people to make bad estimates of their relative risk of injury or death while driving. Provided there is adequate political will, millions of lives could be saved in the coming years. This review is an attempt to examine in detail the available information about legal BAC limit laws, and issue of considerable interest to both policy makers and the public.

Accidents, Traffic↗

[Disagreement about epilepsy and driving].

BACKGROUND: To find out how current regulations concerning epilepsy and driving licence are applied in clinical practice in Norway. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A questionnaire was sent to all 344 members of the Norwegian Neurological Association. RESULTS: 56% responded within 3 months, most of them (152) working in the field of clinical neurology. The majority (73%) did not see reporting a "situation-related" seizure to the authorities as obligatory, but almost all of these respondents (94%) would temporarily disallow driving. 60% did not consider it obligatory to report the exclusive occurrence of simple partial seizures with retained consciousness and motor control. A surprisingly large number (36%) would never recommend dispensation from the rule instituting a one-year driving ban. 39% generally used EEG in the assessment of driving fitness, whereas 17 % rarely did so. Only 50% instructed their patients not to drive during antiepileptic drug withdrawal. 45% did not consider seizure recurrence resulting from consented withdrawal to activate the obligation to report. CONCLUSION: There is poor consensus among neurologists on many aspects of driving and epilepsy, particularly on the assessment of risk when drugs are withdrawn. These issues should be focused on in graduate and postgraduate education in clinical neurology.

Anticonvulsants↗

[Effect of lumbar protective belt on prevention of low back fatigue in personnel during simulated driving].

OBJECTIVE: To observe low back fatigue of subjects before and after simulated driving, and to study the role of the belt used in prevention of low back fatigue of drivers during driving. METHODS: To assess the changes in median frequency (MF), mean power frequency (MPF) of surface electromyogram (SEMG), and flicker frequency, visuognosis persistence of drivers with and without protective belt in simulated driving. RESULTS: There were significant differences in MF [(47.35 +/- 6.07), (39.26 +/- 5.79), (47.21 +/- 6.02), (43.44 +/- 6.26) Hz respectively], MPF [(69.86 +/- 7.08), (59.12 +/- 7.19), (69.86 +/- 7.08), (63.88 +/- 7.49) Hz respectively] between before and after simulated driving without or with the special belt (P < 0.01). But no differences in MF or MPF between without and with the belt before simulated driving were found (P > 0.05). The flicker frequency [(35.64 +/- 2.82), (42.31 +/- 4.68), (35.96 +/- 3.05), (39.79 +/- 3.36) Hz], visuognosis persistence (65.77% +/- 3.94%, 56.83% +/- 5.68%, 65.88% +/- 3.92%, 62.27% +/- 2.91%) had some changes too. CONCLUSION: Simulated diving could induce fatigue of back muscle in drivers. However, the protective belt can effectively prevent low back fatigue of drivers in simulated driving.

Adult↗

[Automobile driving and implantable defibrillators].

The consequences of implanting an automatic cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) on vehicle driving in France are poorly known. This retrospective study examined the behaviour at the wheel of ICD recipients who were recommended to abstain from driving for 3 to 6 months after device implantation. The study population included 98 patients (mean age = 59.5 +/- 14.8 years) followed for a mean of 24. +/- 23.9 months, who underwent ICD implant for ventricular tachycardia (65% of patients ventricular fibrillation (15%), syncope (8%), as part of a research protocol of myocardial cell transplantation 6%, or for primary prevention (5%). The underlying heart disease was ischemic in 59% of patients dilated cardiomyopathy in 11%,hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in 8%, valvular in 6%. Brugada syndrome in 4%, right ventricular arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy in 2%, and miscellaneous disorders in 9% of patients. Five patients died without post mortem interrogation of the ICD. Only 28% of drivers remembered, and 13% observed, the recommended driving limitations. However, 45% (the oldest) claimed to drive prudently. During follow-up, 47% of patients received an ICD shock. Their mean it ventricular ejection fraction was 34 +/- 14%, versus 43 +/- 18% in patients who received no ICD therapy (p = 0.015). Syncope occurred in 16% who received ICD shocks. Shocks were delivered during driving in 6 patients, without consequent accident. Despite their non-observance of recommended driving limitations. ICD recipients suffered few traffic accidents. Legislation in France should reproduce the guidelines issued by European professional societies and enacted by the British laws.

Accidents, Traffic↗

Low vision rehabilitation: vision requirements for driving.

Driving requires several different sets of abilities, the interaction of which is complex. The combination of these factors, rather than any single factor alone, may make it inadvisable to issue a driver's license. Although vision is the predominant source of information for the driver, visual abilities are only one of the factors to be considered when judging the overall driving ability of an applicant. The final determination can only be made through on-the-road evaluation and cannot be based on the evaluation of vision alone. Individual evaluations should include a review of the past driving record and of nonvisual driving-related abilities, as well as observation of on-the-road performance by a qualified driving instructor or driving evaluator.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Psychometric prediction of driving performance among the disabled.

A battery of psychometric and performance tests was administered to 25 subjects who were classified into able-bodied (n = 8), brain-injured (n = 10), and spinal cord injured groups (n = 7). All disabled subjects were regarded by their referring rehabilitation therapists as potential candidates for driver assessment. Data were analyzed to identify which measures were useful in differentiating among the groups and predicting driving performance. Results indicated that psychometric measures can be useful in predicting driving performance among disabled drivers. Nearly all the measures in the battery were significant predictors of driving ability, and some were highly predictive. The best was the oral version of the Symbol Digit Modalities test, which by itself accounted for 70% of the variance of the full-sized-vehicle driving score. Adding a second variable into a two-step multiple regression further increased the correlation between predictors and driving, accounting for almost 80% of the variance in driving score. These findings support the feasibility of developing a simple test battery to determine which disabled candidates are ready for in-vehicle assessment, and which candidates are not ready without further evaluation of cognitive and performance skills.

Adolescent↗

A small-scale vehicle for assessing and training driving skills among the disabled.

A small-scale vehicle (SSV) was developed to assess and train skills of disabled individuals who wish to become licensed to drive. The SSV incorporates power-assisted adjustable-effort steering and braking functions, variable-speed control, modular interchangeable hand control units, standard foot-control units, and a variety of safety and instrumentation features. This vehicle offers numerous advantages over traditional modes of assessment and training. These advantages include its lower price and operating costs as compared to a full-sized vehicle; its adaptability to left- or righthanded clients; and the provision of a specially adapted vehicle for vehicle for practice driving and regaining skills and self-confidence away from public thoroughfares. The SSV is one component in the Center's driving assessment and education curriculum that follows a graded progression, beginning with use of a driving simulator, to driving the SSV, to driving a full-sized vehicle.

Automobile Driving↗

Fitness to drive a car after recovery from severe head injury.

Driving skills in relation to residual psychologic impairments were studied in a sample of patients who had survived severe head injuries several years earlier. Daytime driving was studied in an instrumented car that recorded lateral position control on a highway track and during rides in the subjects' own cars with a professional observer. In comparison with a control group matched by age and driving experience, the patients performed worse on both driving tasks. In addition, the patient group showed clear impairments on a neuropsychologic test battery, despite the long intervals since their injuries. However, the only relationships found between test performance and driving involved visuomotor ability and lateral position control. No relationship was found between neurologic status and driving skill. The results are discussed in terms of patients' compensatory potential.

Acute Disease↗

Driving and aging.

Driving represents a major tangible representation of independence for the elderly. People tend to think of driving as an inherent right. In fact, it is a complicated and potentially fatal activity that must be regulated and monitored. Although individuals over 70 years of age drive fewer miles, the chance of an accident per mile driven is higher because of the multiple changes related to aging. Those changes include decreased sensory perception, slowed information processing, and changes in motor performance. Most states presently do not require increased frequency of license renewal for the older driver, nor do they include periodic retesting using a written examination and road test. The laws regarding such retesting are in a state of change. Screening tests for driving safety must be revised. They should include vision and motor performance testing that is related to driving performance, based on current and continuing research. A field test should be included for drivers over 70 years of age, with a license renewal every 24 months. The physician is in a powerful position regarding surveillance of unsafe drivers. A difficult ethical decision may arise, however, involving a breach in the confidential physician/patient relationship, which must be weighed against the desire to protect society. Legislation regarding physician immunity needs to be clarified. There are many unsafe older drivers who should have their driving limited or their driver's licenses cancelled. However, we also must protect the rights of the older individuals who are safe drivers.

Accidents, Traffic↗

Truck driving and bladder cancer mortality in rural New England.

The relationship between truck driving and bladder cancer mortality was investigated in a case-control study in New Hampshire and Vermont. In-person interviews were conducted with the next-of-kin of 325 bladder cancer cases and 673 controls who died during 1975-79. There were 35 cases and 53 controls who had ever been employed as truck drivers [odds ratio (OR)=1.5, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.9, 2.6]. There was a statistically significant, but inconsistent, positive association between number of years of truck driving and the OR's, rising to 2.3 (1.2,4.1) for 5 years or more of truck driving. Risk was greatest in men who began driving in the 1930's and 1940's (OR=2.6, 95% CI=1.3,5.1) and among residents of two of the most urbanized counties (OR=3.0, 95% CI=1.2,7.4). The association of bladder cancer with truck driving was unaffected by control for possible confounding factors, such as cigarette smoking and coffee drinking. It was not possible to determine whether the risks associated with truck driving were specifically due to diesel fumes. Truck drivers reporting diesel exposures had an OR=1.8 (95% CI=0.5,7.0), but those without diesel exposure still had an OR=1.5 (95% CI=0.8,2.7). Twenty-six cases and 39 controls reported exposure to diesel emissions in any occupation (OR=1.5, 95% CI=0.8,2.8), and a significant duration-response relationship was seen, rising to threefold for those employed in such jobs for 30-39 years.

Automobile Driving↗

The relationship between the extent of visual field and driving performance--a review.

The effect of the extent of visual field upon driving performance has recently received a great deal of interest. With such a volume of traffic on the roads today, peripheral vision would seem to be essential for safe driving and yet past literature is inconclusive as to the relationship between the extent of visual field and driving performance. This paper reviews the research work and gives possible reasons for the lack of relationship reported in most of the studies. Until further research work does determine the minimum visual field required for safe driving, the role of the medical practitioner in advising patients when they are considered unsafe to drive is in question. The provision of a period of adaptation after complete loss of vision in a previously normal eye should also be considered, during which time the motorist is temporarily banned from driving.

Accidents, Traffic↗

Aphasic adults and their decisions on driving: an evaluation.

This study evaluated the propriety of decisions by aphasic adults to avoid or to return to driving following a cerebrovascular accident. A comparison was made of a rehabilitation team's assessments of driving skills with a group of 10 aphasic adults who had chosen to return to driving without professional consultation and 10 aphasic adults who had not returned to driving. The Fisher Exact Probability Test found that the team-assigned driver and nondriver groupings agreed with the patients' own groupings with the relationship significant at p less than 0.005. This suggested patients had appropriately judged their own compentency to drive. Discriminant analysis of variables tested by the team suggested language performance alone was not the most cogent indicator for driving candidacy.

Adult↗

[Revoking the right to drive--a blunt weapon against alcohol intoxicated drivers, hit-and-run drivers and speed limit and red light offenders?].

The differences of the driving ban are determined by the text of law and the type of offence (drink driving, hit-and-run driving) or minor infringement. "Levelling down" is inappropriate. Character defects can be compensated by re-training programmes for drivers, years of sound driving experience and economic difficulties (unemployment). In these cases--especially if it is a first offence--the best way out of the dilemma is an exemption from the driving ban. Despite years of good reputation the exemption from the driving ban is out of the question if alcohol abuse is reinforced by violence.

Accidents, Traffic↗

[The Dualism drive in Freudian theory].

The author discusses Freudian dualistic conception of drives and contends that it can be reduced to a monistic one, on the basis of modern conceptions of Biology, and after scanning the original writings of Freud on the subject of drive and instinct. The word Trieb (drive) is used by Freud as compared with Instinkt (instinct); in 1915 the concept is defined through its attributes: thrust, source, objet and goal; being object and goal contingent for the drive and fixed for instincts. The first dualism is love vs. hunger; the drives are either sexual or autoconservative. But Biology demonstrates today that all life movements are autoconservative. The second dualism, love vs. hate, and the third one, Eros vs. Thantos, interpreted through Biology, show that there is always a prevailing therm, the first one. In this view, instinct should be but one successful drive, "frozen" through time because of its very success, and transmitted through philogenetic channels, in order to be enlivened in each ontogenetic process.

Austria↗

A review of national television PSA campaigns for preventing alcohol-impaired driving, 1987-1992.

We present a content analysis of 137 public service announcements (PSAs) focused on alcohol-impaired driving that aired nationally on U.S. television between 1987 and 1992. Our findings include the following: 1) Most PSAs were intended to reach an undifferentiated general audience, not necessarily those who are at greatest risk for driving after drinking. 2) Most PSAs were designed to create awareness of the problem of alcohol-impaired driving or to promote individual behavior change. 3) More PSAs were developed on the use of designated drivers than on any other subject. 4) About two-thirds of the PSAs included one or more celebrities who speak directly to the audience. Past media campaigns have tended to ignore the fact that people's behavior is profoundly shaped by their environment, which in turn is shaped by public policy. We recommend that future mass media campaigns against alcohol-impaired driving focus on building support for changes in institutional structures, public policy or law that will motivate, support, and sustain the efforts of individuals to alter their behavior. Television PSAs can play an important but somewhat limited role in support of this effort. Greater emphasis will need to be given instead to media advocacy strategies, including paid radio advertising. We further recommend that the principal organizations concerned about alcohol-impaired driving share their plans and develop a common communications strategy that will advance the public policy agenda proposed by the Surgeon General's Workshop on Drunk Driving.

Accidents, Traffic↗

Driving practices, risk-taking motivations, and alcohol use among adolescent drivers: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: To explore risk-taking motivations, driving practices, and alcohol use in rural adolescent drivers. DESIGN: Descriptive correlational study, that used three self-administered questionnaires: Risk Taking Questionnaire, Driving Practices Questionnaire, and Short Michigan Alcohol Screening Test. METHODS: Test instruments were administered to 23 adolescent drivers, aged 16 to 18 years, recruited by school guidance counselors. RESULTS: Risky driving practices were associated with alcohol use (r = 0.73) and greater risk-taking motivations (r = 0.75). The mean score on the Short Michigan Alcohol Screening Test (4.23) reflected alcoholic tendencies. Male gender was moderately associated with risky driving practice (r = 0.54). CONCLUSION: Drinking alcohol and risky driving may represent a broader risk-taking syndrome. In identifying injury-susceptible individuals, gender may be less useful than identification of driving practices. Injury alone may an indicator of risk-taking behavior, but when injury is combined with alcohol use the index of suspicion increases. Emergency nurses can screen injured adolescents for risk-taking motivations and discuss injury history and perceived injury susceptibility. Awareness is the first step in initiating self-protective measures.

Adolescent↗