Driving Cessation Among Older People: When Does It Happen and What Impact Does It Have?

The mobility effects of driving reduction and cessation are evaluated by examining the before and after travel behavior of 42 older drivers in Tucson, Arizona, who reported that they had ceased to drive 1 year after an initial interview. Driving cessation was greater among women, those with lower incomes, and people of color. A substantial number said that they were not sure if their cessation was permanent. More than three-quarters of those who stopped driving relied on car rides to meet their travel needs. The analyses indicate a large drop in common measures of mobility for those who ceased to drive over 1 year’s time and that those who stopped driving had initially traveled substantially less than those who continued to drive 1 year later. The study confirms that there are sometimes drastic declines in mobility with driving cessation, but it also indicates that the impact of driving reduction on the mobility of people who are still drivers is underestimated.