Holding On and Letting Go: The Perspectives of Pre-seniors and Seniors on Driving Self-Regulation in Later Life

There have been research studies on aging drivers who have a medical condition that requires cessation of automobile driving, but little information is available on older drivers who self-regulate their driving behaviors. This article reports on an exploratory, qualitative study that used focus groups with 79 community-dwelling individuals. The authors examines driving self-regulation from the perspective of pre-senior (aged 55-64) drivers, senior (aged 65 years or over) drivers, and senior ex-drivers. Topics covered in the focus groups included the importance of driving, mechanisms of self-monitoring and self-regulation, people who influenced decision making, and opinions regarding licensing regulations. The authors collate the information and present a preliminary model of the process of self-regulation that highlights intrapersonal, interpersonal, and environmental influences on why, how, and when aging drivers adapt or cease driving. The results showed that a near accident or accident was seen as the only factor that would lead many informants to stop driving and few informants planned for driving cessation. The authors conclude that there is a need for interventions that help aging drivers make the transition to ex-driver in a timely and personally acceptable way.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/07149808
• Authors:
  • Rudman, Deborah Laliberte
  • Friedland, Judith
  • Chipman, Mary
  • Sciortino, Paola
• Publication Date: 2006

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 65-76
• Serial:
  • Canadian Journal on Aging
  • Volume: 25
  • Issue Number: 1
  • Publisher: Canadian Association on Gerontology
  • ISSN: 0714-9808
  • EISSN: 1710-1107

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aged drivers; Aging (Biology); Automobile driving; Behavior modification; Decision making; Driver licensing; Driving cessation; Focus groups; Safety; Transportation
• Uncontrolled Terms: Age factors; Self-regulation
• Subject Areas: Safety and Human Factors; Transportation (General); I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01047275
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 27 2007 1:52PM