Gender differences in driving frequency and driving avoidance in difficult situations among elderly drivers

Abstract

We conducted a survey with 226 elderly participants aged 69 to 86 years to investigate the gender differences in driving exposure, driving frequency, and driving avoidance in situations in which it was difficult for them to drive. Further, we set to clarify the intent to decrease driving frequency among the elderly through the survey. The results revealed that driving frequency was not related to gender differences, but driving distance was related to gender differences. With regard to driving frequency, significant gender differences were revealed in difficult driving situations. With regard to driving avoidance frequency, significant gender difference was shown in a few situations. Therefore, it was shown that though there were similar trends with respect to driving frequency and driving avoidance, the trends were not same with respect to the index. Further, the results regarding the relationship between driving frequency and driving avoidance frequency in a specific situation after controlling for the driving exposure index revealed weak or moderately significant correlations in all situations among men and significant correlations in a few situations among women. Therefore, no gender differences with respect to driving frequency among the elderly were revealed; however, gender differences existed with respect to driving distance and driving frequency in difficult driving situations. Nevertheless, the decrease in driving frequency is not correlated to the decrease in driving avoidance frequency, and it was indicated that the driving frequency may decrease due to not only intentional avoidance but also other psychological or social factors.