Older drivers who use prescription psychoactive drugs such as benzodiazepines may be five times more likely to be involved in a motor vehicle accident, a Curtin University study has found.<\/p>\n
The study, headed by Associate Professor Lynn Meuleners from the Curtin Monash Accident Research Centre (C-MARC), concluded that the use of psychoactive medications, particularly benzodiazepines and anti-depressants, increased the likelihood of involvement in motor vehicle crashes for older drivers.<\/p>\n
The study, Psychoactive Medications and Crash Involvement Requiring Hospitalization for Older Drivers: A Population-Based Study<\/em> looked at more than 600 individuals aged 60 and older who were hospitalised as the result of a motor vehicle crash between 2002 and 2008 in Western Australia.<\/p>\n Associate Professor Meuleners said the level of impairment caused by benzodiazepines and some anti-depressants could be compared to that of drinking alcohol.<\/p>\n \u201cThe role of alcohol in traffic crashes has been established, but for prescribed medications there is limited current, evidence-based information,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe usage of medications, particularly benzodiazepines and anti-depressants, may contribute to a longer reaction time when faced with the unexpected while driving.<\/p>\n \u201cIn this study, older drivers exposed to benzodiazepines were five times as likely to be involved in a hospitalisation crash, and almost twice as likely for drivers exposed to anti-depressants.<\/p>\n \u201cLicensing authorities should be alerted to the results of this study to consider the implications of the findings for policy and management for older drivers.<\/p>\n \u201cInclusion of such medications on medical reporting forms for older drivers to licensing authorities would enable ongoing surveillance that would provide a more comprehensive evidence base of the need for stricter regulatory policies.\u201d<\/p>\n Benzodiazepines and antidepressants are frequently used by people over 60, and polypharmacy (using several drugs at the same time) is also more common among this group.<\/p>\n The study was published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.<\/p>\n Contact:<\/strong><\/p>\n Associate Professor Lynn Meuleners, Curtin University
\n<\/strong>Tel: 08 9266 , Email: L.Meuleners@curtin.edu.au@curtin.edu.au<\/a><\/p>\n