The epidemiology of driving in later life: Sociodemographic, health and functional characteristics, predictors of incident cessation, and driving expectations

Abstract

Aim: To describe population-level characteristics of drivers and non-drivers in a cohort of older Australians and identify predictors of driving cessation and expectations.

Methods: The sample comprised the oldest cohort of the PATH Through Life project who were assessed 4 times between 2001 and 2013. At waves 3 and 4 questions on driving were included in the study interview. Data were also collected on health, physical and cognitive function and psychosocial wellbeing. Descriptive analyses compared drivers and non-drivers on sociodemographic, health and functional variables and regression models identified predictors of cessation and driving expectations.

Results: 92.5% of the sample were current drivers. They reported better physical, mental and cognitive health than non-drivers. Drivers expected to drive for another 12.6 years, the majority drove 6+ days per week. Four percent of the sample ceased driving over the four year follow-up. Predictors of cessation were financial problems, driving expectations and driving fewer kilometres per week. Predictors of expectations were poorer self-rated health, mastery, difficulties reading maps, self-rated visual function, years of driving experience, and fewer kilometres driven per week.

Conclusion: Driving is normative for many older Australians in their 70s. Similar factors are associated with actual cessation and expectation of driving suggesting that older adults do have a sense of their expected driving life.

Keywords: Ageing; Cohort; Driving cessation; Epidemiology; Longitudinal; Older drivers.