Family, Partners and Friends

Research indicates that family and friends of older drivers see few benefits to discussions with loved ones about driving. Although older adults and their families assert that they should discuss the process of reducing and ceasing driving, in practice such a conversation rarely takes place or goes poorly. Here are some possible reasons:

• A significant barrier to talking about driving is fear of the older person's negative response
• Families and partners may find confronting older adults about unsafe driving disrespectful or meddling. It may also be accompanied by disapproval from others in the family or community
• The adult child may not want to deal with the question of what role he or she will have to play in meeting the parent's transportation needs if driving is restricted
• If the loved one is the main driver in the household, isolation might increase for the nondriver
• Well-meaning older drivers may resist offers of rides from an adult child by simply responding, "I don't want to be a burden"
• The discussion is postponed until a crisis occurs - a poor time for developing a transportation plan

On the other hand, receiving rides from family and friends can foster a sense of being cared for and provide a positive social interaction that can reduce loneliness.³

Overwhelmingly, the personal automobile remains the transportation of choice for both drivers and nondrivers. Nondrivers identified riding with a friend or family member as the most preferred alternative to driving.⁴

³ Glasgow, N. (2000) "Older Americans' Patterns of Driving and Using Other Transportation." Rural America 15(3):1-5. Retrieved from U.S. Dept. of Agriculture on the World Wide Web: www.ers.usda.gov/epubs/pdf/ruralamerica/sep2000/sep2000f.pdf.

⁴ Coughlin, J., and Straight, A. (2001) Transportation and Older Persons: Perceptions and Preferences-A Report on Focus Groups. Retrieved from AARP on the World Wide Web: http://research.aarp.org/il/2001_05_transport_1.html.