Visual impairment and motor vehicle accidents

ABSTRACT

To examine the association between visual impairment and sustaining an injurious Motor Vehicle Accident [MVA] among drivers seen at the Accident and Emergency Department of Al-Ain Hospital, United Arab Emirates, [UAE]. A cross-sectional hospital based study. Accident Emergency Department [AED], Al-Ain Hospital, UAE. Male and females aged 18 years and above interviewed during the period January 1996 to December 1997. A total of 1542 drivers were examined and treated, but only 1428 drivers gave consent for the study. Socio-demographic data, visual acuity, level of injury, data about driving behavior and data from police reports were collected and analyzed. Study subjects were classified into two groups based on visual acuity normal vision and visually impaired. A total of 1428 drivers were included in our study. of these, 1221 patients [85.6%] had normal vision, 207 patients [14.5%] were visually impaired at the time of sustaining MVA. The majority of victims [77%] were males. Most of the drivers [55%] were young and under the age of 40 years; 39.7% were UAE nationas; 32% had a primary school education; 37.5% had less than 2 years driving experience and 17.2% always used seat belts. Most [59%] admitted to crossing red traffic lights, 61.3% excessive speeding; 32.6% smoking while driving; 29.8% to using telephones while driving; 32.1% to putting their child in the front seat. Significantly higher risk was observed for careless driving [RR=1.29; 95% CI=1.10-1.66, p=0.049], speeding violations [RR=1.32; 95% CI=1.01-l.73, 0.041], and property damage [RR=1.80; 95% CI=l.31-2.48; p=0.05] among drivers having vision impairment. Visual impairment is considered a risk factor for MVA. Further investigation is essential and will require close inter-sectoral collaboration between traffic police, health, law, and transport authorities