Zolpidem use and motor vehicle collisions in older drivers

•Prescribed sleep medicine use in the past 30 days was highest in women and older adults.•Side effects that can affect driving safety are drowsiness/impaired coordination.•Zolpidem use and motor vehicle collisions (MVC) over five years were assessed in older drivers.•Zolpidem use was associated with higher MVC rates in women and in individuals 80 or more years of age.•Zolpidem-related MVCs may be avoided by initiating use at low doses and increasing it as needed