Older Drivers’ Self-Regulation and Exposure

Thomas, Dennis; Graham, Lindsey A.; Finstad, Kraig A.; Wright, Timothy J.; Blomberg, Richard D.; Lococo, Kathy H.; Gish, Kenneth W.; Staplin, Loren; Stutts, Jane C.; Wilkins, Jean; Crompton, Cyndee; Sifrit, Kathy J. · 2020 · ROSA P / United States. Department of Transportation. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

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Summary

This study investigated whether older adults appropriately self-regulate their driving behaviors in response to age-related declines in functional abilities. While previous research relied heavily on self-reported data, which may lack accuracy regarding drivers' awareness of their limitations, this study utilized objective measures to examine the relationships between clinical functional assessments, behind-the-wheel (BTW) driving performance, and naturalistic driving exposure. The primary goal was to determine if drivers with poorer functional skills and driving performance actively limit their exposure to demanding or risky driving contexts, such as high-speed or nighttime driving. The study involved 64 participants aged 60 to 88 recruited from the Burlington, North Carolina, metropolitan area. Participants underwent a 30-day period of naturalistic driving monitoring using video cameras and GPS tracking devices installed in their vehicles. Following this monitoring period, participants completed a standardized BTW driving evaluation administered by a certified driver rehabilitation specialist and a battery of clinical functional assessments. These assessments measured visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, reaction times, working memory, visual closure, useful field of view, and cognitive processing speed via Trail Making Tests and maze completion tasks. Statistical analyses, including linear and logistic regressions, were used to correlate functional scores and BTW performance with specific driving exposure metrics, such as trip frequency, maximum speeds, and driving conditions. Results indicated that poorer performance on functional assessments reliably predicted worse BTW driving scores. Specifically, reduced visual acuity and contrast sensitivity, as well as longer completion times on Trail Making Tests A and B, simple and choice reaction times, and maze tasks, were associated with higher error rates during the BTW evaluation. Regarding self-regulation, participants with poorer functional and BTW scores generally limited their driving to less demanding contexts. Poorer performance was significantly associated with fewer trips at high speeds (particularly above 60 and 70 mph), fewer miles driven on limited-access roadways, and reduced nighttime driving. However, the study noted that while many drivers adapted their habits, some individuals with the poorest functional and BTW scores did not appear to limit their driving exposure, continuing to engage in risky behaviors despite their deficits. The findings suggest that many older drivers do self-regulate by avoiding situations that overtax their declining skills, thereby mitigating potential safety risks. However, the presence of high-risk drivers who fail to adapt their behavior indicates that self-regulation does not eliminate safety concerns for the entire population. The study highlights the value of combining clinical assessments with objective naturalistic driving data to better understand older driver behavior, noting that while functional declines often lead to appropriate behavioral adjustments, some drivers lack the insight necessary to self-regulate effectively.

Key finding

Older drivers with poorer functional and behind-the-wheel performance scores significantly reduced their exposure to high-speed and nighttime driving, although a subset of the worst performers did not limit their driving.

Methodology

naturalistic

Sample size: 64

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 bulk_ingest_rosap on 2026-05-23 (6 acquisition events logged).

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

Topics

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• older drivers
• exposure measurement
• cognitive capacity variation
• mci dementia driving
• age related perceptual decline
• older driver retraining

Information type

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• Empirical Findings: observational prevalence, behavioral performance data
• Methodological Resource: validation psychometrics