Supporting older individuals’ safe outdoor mobility and driving behaviour

Abstract

Mobility is an important element in quality of life (QoL) of elderly people: it enables them to participate in daily activities such as shopping and maintaining social contacts, and thereby reduces the chance of depression and social isolation. If elderly people are able to continue their safe mobility, it is expected to have an overall positive effect not only on their (and their caregivers’ or family’s) wellbeing, but also on society in general. A number of challenges arise with the ageing of the population: the mobility of seniors will also increase, coinciding with an increase in older drivers, but elderly people are a specific risk group in traffic. Elderly people may experience a decline of cognitive, visual and physical functioning, which are important determinants of driving, but also may influence the use of other travel modes like public transport. Therefore, some (technological) interventions are examined in order to promote and maintain their safe mobility.