ABNORMALITIES OF THE CENTRAL VISUAL PATHWAYS CONTRIBUTING TO TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS
THE AUTOPSIES OF TWO AUTOMOBILE DRIVERS AND FIVE PEDESTRIANS INJURED IN TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS REVEALED LESIONS IN VARIOUS PARTS OF THE CENTRAL VISUAL PATHWAYS WHICH MUST HAVE PRODUCED VISUAL DEFECTS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENTS. THE MANNER IN WHICH THE ACCIDENTS TOOK PLACE SUGGESTED THAT THE VISUAL DEFICIENCIES OF THE VICTIMS MAY HAVE CAUSED OR CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT. THIS INFORMATION IS SIGNIGICANT FOR FORENSIC PURPOSES AND FOR ACCIDENT PREVENTION. THE FORENSIC IMPORTANCE OF SECURING INFORMATION ABOUT THE VISION OF PEOPLE INVOLVED IN TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS WAS ILLUSTRATED IN THE CASE REPORTED BY MILNE. THE PRESENT AUTHORS' PURPOSE WAS TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THE POSSIBILITY OF GAINING SUCH INFORMATION EVEN AFTER DEATH. THEY MAY BE OF VALUE IN SITUATIONS IN WHICH THE CAUSE OF AN ACCIDENT WITH A FATAL OUTCOME IS NOT READILY APPARENT. IN NONE OF THE CASES WAS IT PROVED THAT THE POOR VISION PRECIPITATED THE ACCIDENT, BUT IN EACH THE CIRCUMSTANCES WERE SUCH THAT THE VISION WAS ONE POSSIBLE CAUSAL FACTOR. IN ALL BUT ONE CASE, THE VISUAL IMPAIRMENT WAS NOT KNOWN TO THE INVESTIGATING AUTHORITIES. THIS SUGGESTS THAT VISUAL DEFICIENCIES MUST CONTRIBUTE TO OTHER ACCIDENTS BUT MAY REMAIN UNDETECTED FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS. THE FACT THAT THESE VICTIMS HAD POOR SIDE VISION, TENDS TO CONFIRM GENERAL OPHTHALMOLOGIC EXPERIENCE THAT PATIENTS WITH NARROW FIELDS OF VISION ARE PARTICULARLY HANDICAPPED. THEREFORE, WHEN SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF VISUAL FIELDS IS DISCOVERED CLINICALLY, EVEN IF THERE IS A GOOD CENTRAL VISUAL ACUITY, THE PATIENT SHOULD BE ADVISED NOT TO DRIVE AND TO BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL AS A PEDESTRIAN. ALTHOUGH THE PATIENT'S VISION MAY BE ADEQUATE FOR HIS NEEDS AT HOME, HE IS ALWAYS IN DANGER WHEN CROSSING THE STREET, BECAUSE THE REDUCED PERIPHERAL VISION MAY PREVENT THE EARLY RECOGNITION OF APPROACHING VEHICLES. IN SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES, THE DRIVER, BEING UNAWARE OF THE PEDESTRIAN'S VISUAL HANDICAP, MAY ASSUME THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOTICED AND FAIL TO TAKE THE NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS. /AUTHOR/
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Availability:
- Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00987484
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Supplemental Notes:
- Vol 204, No 10, PP 119-121, 4 FIG, 2 REF
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Corporate Authors:
American Medical Association
535 North Dearborn Street
Chicago, IL United States 60610 -
Authors:
- Freytag, E
- Sacks, J G
- Publication Date: 1968-6
Media Info
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Serial:
- JAMA: Journal of the American Medical Association
- Publisher: American Medical Association
- ISSN: 0098-7484
- Serial URL: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Automobile drivers; Autopsies; Crash causes; Drivers; Injuries; Pedestrians; Prevention; Safety; Traffic crashes; Vision
- Old TRIS Terms: Driver vision
- Subject Areas: Highways; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 00220841
- Record Type: Publication
- Source Agency: Nat Safety Council Safety Res Info Serv
- Files: TRIS
- Created Date: Aug 26 1970 12:00AM