People of Advanced Age Who Have either Ceased Driving or Have Never Driven at all

Abstract

Background: A comparable number of advanced aged New Zealand Maori and non-Maori are either still driving, have decided to cease to drive or have never driven. However regardless of which ever group they may fall into there remains a high degree of independence.

Method: Under the Transport, Nottingham Extended Activities of Daily Living and Screen II, Neighbourhood subsections questions were directed towards whether the sample group had ever driven, when they stopped driving and why they had decided to cease driving; were they able to get in/out of their car, have any problems obtaining groceries and difficulties in going to their shops. Methods of analysis included binomial logistic regression, chi-square lest for association, ordinal logistic regression analysis, Mann -Whitney U test, questionnaire and descriptive analysis.

Results: Participants totalled 931 with 421 New Zealand Maori and 510 New Zealand Maori non-Maori.

New Zealand Maori: New Zealand Maori aged between 83-86 years presented the highest figures for those found to be (still) driving. Overall New Zealand Maori females also had 1.028 times higher odds of having ever driven compared to that of New Zealand Maori males. Those that had ceased driving both New Zealand Maori males and females had made that decision more than twelve months ago (with the most notable number being 88 years of age). Despite a list of possible reasons for ceasing to drive it was personal motivation supplied by respondents that presented a more detailed/informative picture. Both male and female indicated that did get in and out of their car on the own or with difficulty. Of those that did not, it was New Zealand Maori females who made use of outside family members or external sources rather than close family/closer relations. New Zealand Maori males indicated that they either never or rarely had any problems in obtaining their groceries compared to the greater number of New Zealand Maori females. Primarily New Zealand Maori males and females indicated that transporting themselves to the shops was not a problem for them. New Zealand Maori males also walked, were as New Zealand Maori females obtained help. Reasons given for any complications New Zealand Maori males highlighted lack of public transport while New Zealand Maori females said it was due to their health.

New Zealand non-Maori: Similarly, the results of New Zealand non-Maori females also offered greater numbers in those who either continued or had ceased driving. Of those who had stopped driving both New Zealand non-Maori males and females had also made that decision more than twelve months ago. Likewise, with personal incentives being the prime cause behind their decision. New Zealand non-Maori also indicated that they could get in and out of their car on their own or with difficulty. However, some males did go on to say that they did utilise family or household members; whereas females made use of outside help. A lack of transport was particularly identified by the New Zealand non-Maori males when asked about problem in obtaining groceries. Both New Zealand non-Maori males and females expressed health concerns as being their prime reason for having difficulty in getting to their shops. However, females also indicated a feeling of being unsafe, inadequate footpaths and or public transport.

Conclusion: Ceasing to drive primarily resulted through personal motivation with the decision being made generally more than twelve months ago. Continued transportation of themselves to required destinations was not a problem but respondents did indicate possible consequences such as health, lack of public transport facilities, inadequate amenities and unsafe environment.