Kyle Schofield

Introduction:
Older driver safety is of increasing interest for policy makers and practitioners as the population of Australia continues to grow and age because capacity to drive safely may be affected by age-related physical and cognitive declines. Additionally, older drivers are at increased risk of serious injury or death if involved in a crash. Evidence suggests that only a small percent of drivers plan for driving retirement and there is limited understanding of the factors that influence this behaviour. Ultimately, the transition to driving retirement may be facilitated by actively planning for the day when an older driver hangs up the keys.

Methods:
This qualitative study aimed to explore factors that influenced older adults planning for driving retirement through semi-structured in-depth interviews with 12 Sunshine Coast residents aged 65 and older who have retired from driving. The research was underpinned by the Social Ecological Model (SEM).

Results:
The data analysis identified that 1) individual factors are generally the stimulus for an older driver to begin thinking about retiring from driving; 2) interpersonal feedback did not play a large role in influencing planning driving retirement; 3) having available social support was an important facilitator of planning for driving retirement; 4) neighbourhood accessibility, infrastructure, and available alternative transport was a significant factor that influenced planning for driving retirement; and 5) at a policy level there is a need for coordinated and comprehensive resources to aid older drivers planning for driving retirement.

Conclusions:
This study identified factors at all four levels of the SEM that influence planning for driving retirement, which provides support for addressing all levels of the SEM in future interventions, policy changes, and research. This knowledge can be valuable for future policy and intervention development.

Introduction: With an aging population there are more older drivers than ever before. To reduce unnecessary road accidents and assist older drivers to successfully transition to non-driving, a better understanding of the factors that influence planning for driving retirement is required. This review explores documented factors that may influence older adults in planning for driving retirement, thus providing new understandings that can inform future preventative road safety measures, interventions, and policies. Method: A systematic search was performed using four databases to locate qualitative studies on the factors that influenced older drivers to plan for driving retirement. To identify factors influencing planning for driving retirement, a thematic synthesis approach was utilized. Identified themes were categorized in relation to elements of the Social Ecological Model theoretical framework. Results: The systematic search resulted in 12 included studies from 4 countries. Four major themes and 11 subthemes were identified regarding planning driver retirement. Each subtheme denotes a factor that may facilitate and/or impede older drivers planning for driving retirement. Conclusion: These results indicate that it is vitally important to encourage older drivers to plan for driving retirement as early as possible. Stakeholders involved in the safety of older drivers (including family, clinicians, road authorities, and policy makers) should work together on interventions and policies that empower older drivers to successfully plan for driving retirement in order to improve road safety and quality of life. Practical Applications: Introducing conversations about driving retirement via medical appointments, family, media, and peer-support groups could facilitate planning for driving retirement. Community-based ride-sharing systems and subsidized private transport options are needed to ensure continued mobility of older adults, especially in rural and regional areas that lack alternate transport services. When devising urban and rural planning, transport, license renewal, and medical testing rules, policy makers should consider older drivers’ safety, mobility, and quality of life after driving retirement.