The relationships between driver behaviors causing and immediately preceding an accident (Direct Causes), and accident causitive impairments in drivers' predisposing mental and physical states (Indirect Causes) were analyzed from a representative sample of 420 traffic accidents. A Relative Involvement Factor (RIF) was developed to reflect the change in the likelihood of any accident-causing behavior being implicated given the existence of a causally relevant mental or physical impairment. The analysis indicates that causative conditions and states suppress certain direct causes while increasing the likelihood of others. Specific relationships are discussed.
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