How Do Diverse Cultures Address Driving and Aging?

With the worldwide popularity of automobiles, traditions and rules of etiquette have arisen around driving in many cultures. Cultural factors that influence how older drivers are perceived include:

• Expressions of respect towards drivers or passengers
• Attitudes towards elders
• Driving etiquette

For example, for many European Americans, it is customary for the owner of the car to drive it. And the driver is viewed as someone in a position of power. Therefore, it may be difficult for European Americans to allow others to drive their cars without feeling they are relinquishing some of that power.

In contrast, in some Asian and European cultures, the most important person in the car is the passenger. The driver plays the role of respectful host, to demonstrate respect for the passenger, who is often senior to the driver, professionally or within a family. For example, the younger relative may be expected to pick up older relatives at the airport or to drive a parent or grandparent to an appointment. Gender may also play a role in who drives the car.

As a growing number of families are affected by cultural and geographic shifts in family structure, the number of younger relatives who live near their elders has diminished. When few relatives are available to provide transportation, many older adults will ask for rides only to meet basic needs, like shopping for groceries or going to the doctor. This hesitancy can severely limit their social interactions, which increases isolation and decreases the quality of their lives.