Cohort analysis of driving cessation and limitation among older adults

Abstract

Automobiles are central to participation in economic, social, and cultural activities in the United States. The ability to drive as one ages is fundamental to the quality of life among older adults. Driving rates decline significantly with age. Researchers using cross-sectional data have studied the reasons former drivers have stopped driving, but few have followed individuals over time to examine changes in relationships among driving cessation, socio-demographics, and health conditions. We used longitudinal data from a national sample of 20,000 observations from the University of Michigan Health and Retirement Study (HRS) to examine relationships among demographic variables, health conditions, and driving reduction and driving cessation. Longitudinal data allow analysis of generational differences in behavior, a major advantage over cross-sectional data which only allow comparisons of different people at one point in time. We found, like many other studies, that personal decisions to limit and eventually stop driving vary with sex, age, and health conditions. In addition, unlike most previous studies, we also found that those relationships differ by birth cohort with younger cohorts less likely to stop and limit their driving than their older counterparts. The findings indicate an evolution in the association between driving cessation and its causes.

From Transportation Equity to Accessibility Capability: A New Framework to Guide Transportation Planning for Older People

“…The longevity and health of today's older people have significantly improved as a result of improved living standards. A recent study has shown that older adults in more recent birth cohorts tend to stop driving later in life compared to those in older cohorts (Schouten et al 2022b). However, as the statistics in the Introduction show, many older people still suffer from medical conditions limiting their driving abilities.…”

Social Cognitive Theory, Driving Cessation, and Alternative Transportation in Later Life

“…Behavioral Patterns. A constellation of factors is related to driving cessation including health changes, cognitive ability, and previous driving experience (Schouten et al, 2022). Older adults that are at increased risk for driving cessation (e.g., those with lower income, females, and racial and ethnic minority older adults) plan for driving retirement more than their counterparts (Vivoda et al, 2021).…”

How Do Psychosocial Barriers Shape Public Transport Use? A Mixed-Method Study among Older Adults in Pakistan

“…Studies demonstrate that older adults tend to have unique mobility patterns compared to other age groups [56]. Older adults depend more on others and do not have adequate mode choices, especially after driving cessation [57,58]. Moreover, they tend to have a shorter commute distance, probably because of their limited ability or sedentary lifestyles.…”