title: The social and policy predictors of driving mobility among older adults.
abstract: This research was designed to identify the impact of state driver's license renewal requirements on the driving mobility (i.e., the reduction or cessation of driving) of older (70 years or older) drivers in the United States. Nationally representative data from four waves (1993-2000) of the Asset and Health Dynamics of the Oldest Old study were linked to state policies on relicensing and used in a longitudinal logistic regression analysis. The author assessed the driving behaviors of a sample of 9,638 men and women. The findings demonstrate that the driving mobility of older people is influenced by state relicensing policies. The analysis indicates that five policies--accelerated renewal, mental testing, peripheral vision testing, renewal in person at age 70+ (as opposed to renewal by mail or online), and restricted licensing--have a significant effect on an older driver's decision to reduce or cease driving. The driving patterns of older adults are influenced not only by their health and socioeconomic backgrounds, but also by state relicensing policies. In terms of public policy, this result shows that there is a mechanism for extending the years of independent mobility for older people: restricted licensing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Administration and Public Policy, College of Business Administration and Public Policy, California State University, Carson, California 90747, USA. ekulikov@csudh.edu
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kulikov
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D001333:Automobile Driver Examination / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008004:Licensure / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D008297:Male; D011050:Policy Making; D011639:Public Opinion; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D017751:Safety Management / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D013219:State Government; D014481:United States