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<< Traffic Safety 

<< Back Print Version

Literature Review Examines Research on Older Women's Transportation Needs

Number 208 September 1999

U.S. Department of Transportation

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 

400 Seventh Street, S.W., Washington, DC 20590

LITERATURE REVIEW EXAMINES RESEARCH ON OLDER WOMEN'S TRANSPORTATION NEEDS

Nearly 15 percent of the United States population is comprised of people age 65 or older. As the baby boom generation ages, that percentage will increase dramatically -- to 23 percent by the year 2020. Most of these individuals expect to be driving in their maturity. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the National Safety Council sponsored a literature review of research to examine transportation and mobility needs of older women.

On a percentage basis, older women drive fewer miles, and stop driving earlier than men. They also have a lower fatality rate and, on a per mile driven basis, are involved in fewer crashes than older men. Because women live longer than men, there are more older women driving than older men, in terms of actual numbers.

While women live longer than men, they are more likely to suffer from disabilities that might affect their driving abilities. Among older people, general disabilities may be due to physical ailments, but difficulties in complex tasks such as using the telephone, balancing a checkbook, or operating a motor vehicle may be due more to cognitive deficits or cognitive impairment. About two percent of persons 65 years old show clinical signs of dementia, but this may be as high as 20 to 40 percent among those 85 years and older.

Economic Factors Play a Role

From population survey data, researchers found that while disability plays a role in when a person stops driving, economic factors may also play a large role in making that decision. For example, the Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey, conducted by the Federal Highway Administration, found that women with higher income levels tend to drive later in life than those with lower incomes. The situation is different for older women who live alone -- more of whom continue to drive, at least past the age of 75, than those living in multiple-person households. It may be that women who are less healthy may quit driving earlier, and be less likely to live alone.

Source: 1995 Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey

Mobility is closely tied to quality of life. Driving one's own vehicle was found to be associated with higher levels of life satisfaction, less loneliness, and better perceived control for both men and women.

Alternative Transportation Declining

As older women choose to give up driving based on varying degrees of physical and cognitive disability from aging and health problems, the need increases for alternative transportation. The 1990

Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey indicated, however, that the use of alternative transportation, including transit and walking, is decreasing, while trips in private automobiles are on the rise.

The review cites three main reasons for the declines in the use of public transportation:

● the increase in suburbanization in America

● overly-restrictive rules for paratransit use that limit requests

● fear of crime or other victimization

Recommendations for Future Data Needs

The authors conclude that there is a need for additional information about how transportation issues affect older Americans, both men and women. Some areas highlighted in this literature review were to:

● identify the differences in transportation problems of women of various socioeconomic status, race, and regions of the country

● examine differences in population density --rural, urban, and suburban areas

● examine the reasons why older women quit driving, to categorize those that are physically or cognitively related to driving skills

● develop tests to differentiate the cognitive skills needed to safely drive for older women

The appendix contains descriptions of 24 geriatric, social, and economic surveys that are relevant to continued safe mobility of older women. For each survey, the report briefly summarizes the population covered, dates of the survey, type of health and functional data, mobility and transportation data, gender difference data, general findings, and weaknesses toward issues of women mobility, transportation and health.

HOW TO ORDER

For a copy ofLiterature Review of the Status of Research on the Transportation and Mobility Needs of Older Women, (47 pgs plus appendix) prepared by the University of Iowa College of Medicine, write to the Office of Research and Traffic Records, NHTSA, NTS-31, 400 Seventh Street, S.W., Washington, DC 20590, fax (202) 366-7096, or download from www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/older

Essie Wagner was the contract manager.

Percentage of Person-trips by Mode, 1983 and 1990

1983 1990

65 75 85 65 75 85

Private Vehicle 86.7 83.0 78.7 91.0 88.0 81.0

Public Transit 2.7 1.7 4.0 1.0 1.8 3.2

Walk 9.8 12.0 13.0 6.0 8.0 10.5

U.S. Department 

of Transportation 

National Highway 

Traffic Safety 

Administration

400 Seventh Street, S.W. NTS-31 

Washington, DC 20590

Traffic Tech is a publication to disseminate 

information about traffic safety programs, 

including evaluations, innovative programs, 

and new publications. Feel free to copy it as you wish. 

If you would like to receive a copy contact: 

Linda Cosgrove, Ph.D., Editor, Evaluation Staff 

Traffic Safety Programs 

(202) 366-2759, fax (202) 366-7096

mailto:lcosgrove@nhtsa.dot.gov

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