How do older adult drivers self-regulate? Characteristics of self-regulation classes defined by latent class analysis

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Transportation Safety
• Public Health

Background:

• Motor-vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for older adults (65-84 years).
• Older drivers often self-regulate to balance mobility needs with safety concerns.
• The process of driving self-regulation in older adults is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To define and describe classes of driving self-regulation in older adults.
• To identify characteristics associated with different levels of driving self-regulation.

Main Methods:

• Latent class analysis of data from 729 older adults (≥60 years) who used a ride service.
• Characterization of self-regulation classes based on driving frequency and avoidance of 7 risky situations.
• Logistic regression to explore associations between mobility-related characteristics and self-regulation class.

Main Results:

• Three distinct classes of driving self-regulation were identified: low, medium, and high.
• High self-regulation was associated with lower driving frequency and greater avoidance of risky situations.
• Factors like female sex, age (≥80 years), visual impairment, assistive device use, and special health needs predicted higher self-regulation.

Conclusions:

• Driving frequency and situational avoidance are key indicators of driving self-regulation in older adults.
• Understanding these self-regulation classes and their associated characteristics is crucial for developing effective transportation strategies.
• Tailored transportation solutions can support older adults' mobility and safety.