Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Older Adult Driving in the United States

Betz, Marian E.; Fowler, Nicole R.; Han, S. Duke; Hill, Linda L.; Johnson, Rachel L.; Meador, Lauren; Omeragic, Faris; Peterson, Ryan; DiGuiseppi, Carolyn · 2022 · OpenAlex

DOI: 10.1177/07334648221091556

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Summary

This study investigates how the COVID-19 pandemic influenced driving behaviors and health outcomes among older adults in the United States. Motivated by concerns that pandemic-related restrictions and social isolation could exacerbate negative health effects associated with driving cessation, the researchers analyzed baseline data from the Advancing Understanding of Transportation Options (AUTO) study. The AUTO trial is a randomized controlled trial designed to support older adults in making decisions about changes in their driving habits. The researchers compared participants enrolled before the pandemic (December 2019 to March 2020) with those enrolled during the pandemic (May 2020 to June 2021). The study population consisted of 301 English-speaking, licensed drivers aged 70 or older who drove at least weekly and had at least one medical condition associated with driving cessation. Participants were recruited from primary care clinics in San Diego, Denver, and Indianapolis. Data were collected via baseline questionnaires assessing demographics, driving patterns, use of alternative transportation, and health metrics. Health outcomes were measured using PROMIS scales for social isolation, depression, emotional support, and global health, as well as the Perceived Stress Scale and the Life-Space Assessment for mobility. Statistical analyses included t-tests, Fisher’s exact tests, and linear mixed models to compare pre- and during-pandemic groups. The results indicated a significant shift in driving behavior. While only 26% of pre-pandemic participants reported reducing their driving in the prior six months, this figure rose to 70% among those enrolled during the pandemic. During the pandemic, reductions were primarily driven by personal preference rather than medical or emotional reasons, and participants drove less frequently to distant towns or outside their state. Use of rideshare services and public transportation declined sharply early in the pandemic, though rideshare usage showed signs of recovery by late 2021. Mean Life-Space scores, indicating mobility range, also decreased significantly during the pandemic period. Despite these mobility reductions and a statistically significant increase in self-reported social isolation, there were no significant differences between the two groups in measures of depression, stress, or overall physical and mental health. Qualitative responses revealed that many participants adapted by utilizing delivery services and video communication, with some reporting positive changes such as increased family contact. The study concludes that while the pandemic led to substantial reductions in driving and increased social isolation among older adults, it did not significantly worsen depression or stress levels in this predominantly white, well-educated, and community-dwelling sample. The findings highlight the resilience of older adults and suggest that alternative services, such as telemedicine and delivery options, can help mitigate the negative impacts of driving cessation. The authors note limitations, including the lack of diversity in the sample and the exclusion of rural populations, suggesting that results may not generalize to older adults with lower socioeconomic status or those in areas with fewer alternative transportation options.

Key finding

Older adults enrolled during the COVID-19 pandemic reported significantly higher rates of driving reduction and increased social isolation compared to those enrolled pre-pandemic, yet they did not experience significant increases in depression or stress.

Methodology

survey

Sample size: 301

Provenance

The full processing record for this entry. Every stage of this paper's journey through the pipeline is logged — what ran, with which tool and model, how many attempts it took, and when it last completed. Discovered via openalex_abstract on 2026-05-08 (3 acquisition events logged).

Summary generated by qwen3.6-27b-prismaquant on 2026-06-10; verification: verified.

Topics

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• older drivers