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The Associations Between Older Driver Licensure Laws with Travel and Passenger Behaviors Among Adults Aged 65 Years or Older (United States, 2003–2017)

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  • Sijun Shen

    (The Center for Injury Research and Policy, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
    Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43205, USA)

  • Marizen Ramirez

    (Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA)

  • Cara J. Hamann

    (Department of Epidemiology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
    Injury Prevention Research Center, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA)

  • Nichole Morris

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, HumanFIRST Laboratory, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA)

  • Corinne Peek-Asa

    (Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52246, USA)

  • Motao Zhu

    (The Center for Injury Research and Policy, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
    Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
    Division of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA)

Abstract

Introduction: The aging population has been rapidly growing in the United States (U.S.). In line with this trend, older adults’ mobility and transportation safety are an increasing priority. Many states have implemented driver licensure laws specific to older adults to limit driving among the elderly with driving skill decline. Evaluations of these laws have primarily focused on their safety benefits related to older drivers’ fatal crash rate or injury rate. However, very few studies investigated licensure law effects on older adults’ mobility. Objective: The objective of our study is to evaluate the association between older driver licensure laws and older adult daily traveling and passenger exposure. Methods: The 2003–2017 American Time Use Survey (ATUS) data were linked with statewide driver licensure law provisions. Adults aged 55–64 years were used as the reference group to control for the effects of non-licensure-law factors (e.g., economic trend). We used modified Poisson regressions with robust variance to estimate the relationships between licensure law provisions and the likelihoods of older men and women’s daily traveling and passenger behaviors. Results: Laws requiring a vision test at in-person renewal were associated with increased daily traveling likelihood for women aged 75 years or older, primarily as a passenger. Laws requiring a knowledge test were related to a reduced daily overall traveling likelihood for women aged 75 years or older. Conclusions: In general, licensure law provisions are not strongly related to older adults’ mobility, in particular for older male adults. Older female adults’ daily mobility may be more likely to be influenced by the change of licensure laws than older male adults. The existence of gender-based disparities in responding to licensure laws requires future studies to account for the gender difference in estimating the effects of those traffic policies on older adults’ mobility and traffic safety.

Suggested Citation

  • Sijun Shen & Marizen Ramirez & Cara J. Hamann & Nichole Morris & Corinne Peek-Asa & Motao Zhu, 2021. "The Associations Between Older Driver Licensure Laws with Travel and Passenger Behaviors Among Adults Aged 65 Years or Older (United States, 2003–2017)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-10, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:5:p:2251-:d:505309
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Satariano, W.A. & Guralnik, J.M. & Jackson, R.J. & Marottoli, R.A. & Phelan, E.A. & Prohaska, T.R., 2012. "Mobility and aging: New directions for public health action," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 102(8), pages 1508-1515.
    2. Stephanie J. Fonda & Robert B. Wallace & A. Regula Herzog, 2001. "Changes in Driving Patterns and Worsening Depressive Symptoms Among Older Adults," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 56(6), pages 343-351.
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