Self-Harm and Risk of Motor Vehicle Crashes Among Young Drivers: Findings from the DRIVE Study

This article reports on a prospective cohort study undertaken to assess the risk that intentional self-harm poses for motor vehicle crashes among young drivers. The authors prospectively linked survey data from newly licensed drivers aged 17–24 years (n = 18,871) to data on licensing attempts and police-reported motor vehicle crashes during the follow-up period of 2 years. The study focused on the role of recent engagement in self-harm on the risk of a crash, as well as potential confounders, including number of hours of driving per week, psychological symptoms and substance abuse. Overall, 1,495 drivers had 1 or more crashes during the follow-up period and 871 drivers (4.6%) reported that they had engaged in self-harm in the year before the survey. Self-harm behaviors included cutting or burning, self-battering, risk-taking, road-related self-harm, poisoning, and self-harm with lethal intent. These drivers were found to be at significantly increased risk of a motor vehicle crash compared with drivers who reported no self-harm. This increased risk remained significant, even after adjustment for age, sex, average hours of driving per week, previous crash, psychological distress, duration of sleep, risky driving behavior, substance use, remoteness of residence and socio-economic status. Most of the drivers who reported self-harm and had a subsequent crash were involved in a multiple-vehicle crash (74 of 88 drivers, 84.1%). The authors include a brief discussion of intervention strategies that might be useful in this population of at-risk drivers.

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  • Authors:
    • Martiniuk, Alexandra LC
    • Ivers, Rebecca Q
    • Glozier, Nick
    • Patton, George C
    • Lam, Lawrence T
    • Boufous, Soufiane
    • Senserrick, Teresa
    • Williamson, Ann
    • Stevenson, Mark R
    • Norton, Robyn
  • Publication Date: 2009-11-16

Language

  • English

Media Info

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Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 01148123
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Files: TRIS
  • Created Date: Jan 25 2010 8:07AM