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Driving cessation: what older former drivers tell us
A M Dellinger1, M Sehgal, D A Sleet
1National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30341, USA.
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
|May 12, 2001
Summary
Older adults often stop driving due to medical reasons or age, but surprisingly, those who ceased driving reported fewer medical conditions than active drivers. General health and functional ability appear more critical in this decision.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Transportation Safety
- Public Health
Background:
- Driving cessation is a significant life event for older adults, impacting independence and quality of life.
- Understanding the multifaceted reasons behind driving cessation is crucial for developing targeted support interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the primary determinants and contributing factors for driving cessation among older adults (age 55+) in a community setting.
- To analyze the relationship between demographic, health, and medical factors and the decision to stop driving.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional survey was administered to 1,950 licensed drivers aged 55 and older in a southern California community.
- Data collected included self-reported driving habits, demographic information, health status, and medical history.
- Statistical analyses, including bivariate and logistic regression, were used to identify factors associated with driving cessation.
Main Results:
- Of 1,950 respondents, 141 (7.2%) stopped driving in the past five years, with a mean age of 85.5 years and predominantly female participants.
- The most frequently cited reasons for driving cessation were medical issues (41.0%) and age-related factors (19.4%).
- While medical conditions were the most common reason, individuals who stopped driving reported fewer medical conditions compared to those who continued driving. Age and weekly mileage driven were significantly associated with cessation.
Conclusions:
- The decision to stop driving is complex, with medical conditions being a primary stated reason, yet paradoxically, fewer medical conditions were reported by those who ceased driving.
- Broader indicators of general health and functional ability may be more influential than specific medical diagnoses in the decision-making process for driving cessation.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the interplay between health status, functional capacity, and driving cessation in older populations.