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Sleep Quality in Later Life: How Does It Affect Driving Safety?
Anne E Barrett1, Brianna Soulie1, Hope Mimbs1
1Department of Sociology, Pepper Institute on Aging and Public Policy, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA.
Abstract:
Drowsy driving is a major cause of motor vehicle injuries and fatalities, yet little is known about its impact on older adults. This group may face heightened risk due to age-related sleep issues. Using survey data from 3,411 Floridians aged 60 and older (collected in 2020/2021), we examined how self-rated sleep quality relates to two indicators of driving safety: frequency of self-reported distracted driving behaviors (e.g., texting, eating, and grooming) and involvement in a crash or near-crash in the past year. Regression results showed that poor sleep quality did not significantly predict distracted driving but was associated with increased odds of a crash or near-crash. Our findings, which partially align with studies of younger drivers, highlight the need to understand how the relationship between sleep and driving safety may change with age.
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