To drive or not to drive: Driving cessation amongst older adults in rural and small towns in Canada

Hansen, Stine; Newbold, K. Bruce; Scott, Darren M.; Vrkljan, Brenda; Grenier, Amanda · 2020 · OpenAlex-citations

DOI: 10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2020.102773

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Summary

This qualitative study investigates the transportation challenges and needs of older adults residing in rural areas and small towns near Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, with a specific focus on the transition to driving cessation. The research is motivated by the aging demographic in Canada and the critical reliance of rural residents on personal automobiles due to the absence of viable public transit alternatives. The authors aim to understand how older adults in these settings perceive their mobility, plan for the eventual loss of their driver’s license, and cope with the associated risks of social isolation. The study employed semi-structured interviews with 23 participants (aged 65+) recruited from four communities lacking public transportation services. Recruitment utilized snowball sampling and community outreach, continuing until thematic saturation was reached. Participants included both current drivers and those who had ceased driving. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis to identify patterns in driving behaviors, planning for cessation, and the impacts of mobility loss. The findings revealed four primary themes. First, participants emphasized a total dependence on personal vehicles, describing a severe lack of transportation options. Public transit was nonexistent in their communities, and specialized services like DARTS were either inaccessible, poorly understood, or limited by service areas. Second, older adults reported significant changes in driving behavior, including self-regulation such as avoiding night driving, poor weather conditions, and complex highway maneuvers. Third, there was a notable lack of planning for driving cessation. Most participants, including those who had already stopped driving, expressed surprise at the transition and had not made concrete plans for alternative mobility or relocation. Finally, the study highlighted the profound social and emotional isolation resulting from driving cessation. Participants feared that losing their license would force them to move away from their communities or rely entirely on family, leading to a loss of independence, reduced social participation, and potential depression. The study concludes that driving cessation in rural Canada is a critical issue exacerbated by the lack of infrastructure and alternative transport options. Unlike urban dwellers, rural older adults face a binary choice between driving and isolation, as there are no intermediate mobility solutions. The authors argue that policymakers must recognize the unique transportation vulnerabilities of rural aging populations. Effective responses require improved access to transportation services and better support systems to mitigate the social isolation and loss of independence associated with driving cessation in these underserved areas.

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• older drivers