Safety Awareness For Elderly Drivers (SAFE): the development and evaluation of an educational intervention on age-related driving issues and safe driving behaviours for older drivers

• Main Author: Lindstrom-Forneri, Wendy
• Other Authors: Tuokko, Holly A.
• Language: English; en
• Published: 2009
• Subjects: driving intervention; Everyday competency; Older drivers; Theory-based intervention; Awareness; Transtheoretical model; Theory planned behavior; UVic Subject Index::Humanities and Social Sciences::Psychology
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1828/1993

Maintaining independence is a primary reason that many older drivers continue to drive. Safety, however, is a growing concern for all older drivers. Numerous studies have noted that many older drivers lack an awareness of their driving abilities and driving safety issues for older adults. Identifying the awareness level of older drivers from a theoretical standpoint is important. The current educational interventions for older drivers show promising results and suggest that educational programs can impact older driver knowledge, self-reported awareness, and behaviours. However, rarely have older drivers with cognitive deficits been included. This research study fills a gap in the current literature regarding the utility of a theoretically-based intervention program to increase older driver awareness, improve attitudes towards driving, and increase behaviours around older driver safety. The purpose of this research study was to develop, pilot, and examine the effectiveness of a novel, theoretically based, in-class education program entitled “Safety Awareness for Elderly Drivers” (SAFE) for older drivers both with and without cognitive impairment. The SAFE education program was based on five relevant models/theories: 1) Driving as an Everyday Competence, 2) Hierarchical Awareness Theory, 3) Toglia & Kirk’s Awareness Model, 4) Theory of Planned Behaviour, and 5) Transtheoretical Model. A convenience sample of 47 current older drivers aged 70 years or older currently contemplating changing their driving behaviours and their passengers were recruited and randomly assigned. Participants in the intervention group received the group education session, while those in the treatment as usual control group received a copy of the Insurance Board of British Columbia’s “Roadsense for Driver’s” handbook. We measured general knowledge, awareness of individual driving abilities, attitudes, intention to change driving behaviours, driving behaviours, and readiness to change before, immediately after the intervention (intervention group only), and at 2-month follow-up. Results indicated that the “Safety Awareness for Elderly Drivers” education program was well received by older drivers. The education program demonstrated immediate impacts, such as increased knowledge of older driver safety issues (general level awareness), increased individual awareness, and some changes in attitude and intentions toward changing driving behaviours. Older drivers with mild cognitive impairment showed similar benefits from the education program. However, the program did not appear to be more effective than the review of a drivers handbook available though ICBC in follow-up, with most follow-up measures being similar to baseline. Implications of this research and further research suggestions for older drivers are discussed.