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Press Release
Contact Person: Susan Samson, (727) 570-9696 ext. 234 		 
 
Bay area seniors, dependent on driving, find ways to improve safety

One group has already begun improving older driver safety, older drivers themselves. Three quarters of Tampa Bay's older drivers (76%) say they have changed the way they drive in the past five years by doing such things as avoiding rush hour, driving less often or planning their trips ahead, a new survey shows. The most common change was avoiding night driving. Four in 10 older drivers (43%) said they had begun doing that in the last 5 years.

Nearly a third (32%) said they had begun avoiding rush hour. One in four drivers (26%) said they were driving less often. About a fifth (22%) said they now plan trips ahead and another fifth (22%) have stopped driving as far in the last five years.

With the nation debating how best to stem a rise in elderly traffic fatalities, the Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas, Inc., surveyed 420 seniors in Pasco and Pinellas counties, and some in Hillsborough County, this fall to bring older residents into the discussion about their safety. The major finding: Older drivers are heavily dependent on their cars, but willing to adjust what they do as they age.

A whopping 76% agreed with the statement "I want to take a driving safety course."

The results indicate a need - and an opportunity - to offer seniors meaningful tips about how to drive more safely because, unless they remain stranded at home, older drivers are likely to keep driving themselves. Few said they regularly used public transportation or senior shuttles. When asked "how do you get around your community," 96% of the respondents answer "drive myself." The main alternative for the area's seniors, which accounted for just over 2% of the sample, wasn't busses or shuttles or public transportation; it was friends and family. Less than 1% of the sample chose public transportation, senior shuttles, taxi cabs or walking.

For many seniors, walking is not a realistic option, at least not for some trips. Two thirds of the seniors said their grocery store was more than a mile from their home.

While opinions about public transportation were mixed, use was almost nonexistent. A mere 3.5% said they had used public transportation in the two weeks prior to the survey, and most of them (2% of the overall sample) used public transportation just once or twice. About half the sample (51%) agreed that the "community lacks transportation options for people like me." A third ranked the community's transportation options poor or very poor. Another 38% graded those options as "fair."

Given what they perceive as limited options, some older drivers are changing their lifestyle. Just over 17% said they are cutting back on recreation or entertainment activities and 12% are socializing less. Many more are adjusting how they drive. In the past five years, 43% of the older drivers began avoiding night driving, while about a third (32%) began avoiding rush hour. One in four (25%) said they drive less often. A fifth now plan trips ahead (22%), don't drive as far (22%), or drive more slowly (20%).

One thing seniors are not doing is abandoning their cars. Nearly three out of four (73%) reported driving five or more days in the week prior to the survey. About half (55%) reported driving every day. Just 4% said they had not driven that week. As drivers age, they do cut back on how often they drive, but even most drivers over 80 years old (59%) reported driving at least five days a week.

Perhaps more surprising, despite all the changes older drivers are making, most are silent about the issue. Three quarters of the seniors surveyed (73%) said they hadn't had a conversation in the past six months about the problems people like them face getting around in the community. The Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas, Inc. hopes to spark more conversation about the subject this year as a way to encourage safer driving behaviors and more informed policy debates. Too often, people approach the issue purely as a safety question, not also as a transportation issue. The fact is that many older drivers are making the changes necessary to be safer on the road. What's more, as the survey's results show, many question whether they have a realistic alternative.

The project, funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, is being implemented in five pilot sites and is being coordinated by the Academy for Educational Development, a nonprofit organization that designs and implements social marketing programs, and the American Society on Aging, a national association working in the field of aging.

The survey this fall was a joint effort by AED's research arm, ASA and the Area Agency on Aging, of Pasco-Pinellas, Inc., administered the survey at locations frequented by older drivers, such as CARES, senior centers, Neighborly elderly nutrition sites, and other senior centers, health fairs, senior residence communities and others. In addition to any sampling bias, the margin of error for this sample size is plus or minus 5%. The survey asked older drivers about how they get around, how transportation issues affect their lives, how they view public transportation and how they have adjusted their driving practices as they age. The survey respondents were all current drivers.

The survey found that (61%) agreed they would go to the Getting in Gear program for driving assessments.

 
 


Summary of Findings
 
Seniors Dependent on Driving

Nineteen out of 20 seniors in Tampa Bay (96%) "get around [their] community" by driving themselves. Another 2% rely on friends driving them around. Less than 1% use the bus, ride in cabs, board senior shuttles or walk.

How I typically get around…
Drive Myself 96%
Driven by friends 2%
Public transportation <1%
Van <1%
Walk <1%

Eight out of ten Tampa Bay seniors (79%) agreed that without driving, "I would not be able to get to the places I need to go or see the people I want to see." Respondents were divided when asked about the area's overall transportation options. About a third (31%) ranked the options poor or very poor; 38% called them "fair;" and the remaining 32% classified the area's options as good or excellent. About half of the respondents (51%) agreed the community "lacks transportation options for people like me."

Nevertheless, half of those surveyed (55%) believe the "community is trying to help" improve the transportation options available to them. In fact, half those who believe the community lacks transportation options (48%) also believe the community is trying to do something about that.

If I were to stop driving, I would not be able to get to the places I need to go or see the people I want to see.*
Strongly Disagree 3%
Disagree 18%
Agree 47%
Strongly Agree 31%

Other than driving, my community lacks transportation options for people like me.*
Strongly Disagree 11%
Disagree 27%
Agree 35%
Strongly Agree 16%
*Figures sometimes fail to add up to 100% due to rounding.
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Tampa Bay seniors shun public transportation and senior shuttles.

Use of public transportation was lower in Tampa Bay than any other pilot site, even rural Davenport, Iowa. (The other three pilot sites are Chicago, Ill.; San Mateo, Calif.; and Syracuse, N.Y.)

Almost nobody - just 3.5% of the sample - had used public transportation in the two weeks preceding the survey. What's more, most of those who use public transportation used it only once or twice. Only a single respondent reported using public transportation every day.

One in four seniors (27%) didn't even know if they were near a public transportation stop. The most common concerns cited about public transportation were problems getting to the stop (30%), it takes too much time (21%), the routes go the wrong places (19%), not knowing how to use it (18%) and confusing routes (17%).

Use of cabs (3%) and senior shuttles (5%) was also rare. What's more, less than one percent of the sample reported using either mode more than once or twice in the two weeks preceding the survey. About half the sample (52%) described cabs as too expensive. Many seniors reporting know little about vans or shuttles: One in three (34%) said they "didn't know enough" about senior shuttles or vans. A fifth of the sample (22%) said they "don't know how" to use them.

Walking was also unpopular, though a more frequently used mode of transportation. Three out of four (76%) seniors had not walked as a way to get to a place they needed to go in the two weeks preceding the survey. Only 4% reported walking to a place they needed to go every day. Barriers cited included the weather (43%), distance (40%), intersection hazards (27%), a lack of sidewalks (25%), and personal health issues (21%).

The survey also asked older drivers what transportation option they would prefer other than driving. Almost half of those who responded (46%) chose public transportation, while 21% selected shuttles or vans and 16% said cabs. Family or friends wasn't one of the choices listed, but 9% of the sample wrote that method in anyhow, under "other."


Distance from public transportation stop*
Less then ½ mile (Less than 6 blocks) 45%
½ mile to 1 mile (6-12 blocks) 12%
More than 1 mile (More than 12 blocks) 14%
Don't know 27%

Rating of the area's overall transportation options*
Very Poor 9%
Poor 21%
Fair 38%
Good 28%
Excellent 4%
*Figures sometimes fail to add up to 100% due to rounding.

Use of public transportation in past two weeks
None 97%
1-2 days 2%
More than two, but not every day <1%
Everyday <1%

Concerns about public transportation (by age)
  Total 65-69 70-74 75-79 80+
Problems getting to stop 30% 35% 34% 32% 22%
Too much time 21% 24% 34% 16% 13%
Routes confusing 17% 19% 23% 12% 14%
Routes go wrong places 19% 24% 25% 16% 13%
Don't know how 18% 14% 19% 17% 19%
Schedules confusing 12% 15% 16% 11% 7%
Service not regular 9% 12% 14% 6% 6%
Crime/safety 11% 14% 20% 7% 6%
Personal health issues 9% 10% 11% 5% 10%
Cost 8% 11% 9% 8% 4%

Preferred alternative
Public transportation    39%
Shuttle or vans 18%
Walking 4%
Cabs 14%
Friends or family** 7%
No Answer 16%
*Figures sometimes fail to add up to 100% due to rounding.
**Not a listed choice; written in under "other".

Days walked in last two weeks
None 76%
1-2 days 15%
More than two, but not every day 5%
Everyday 4%

Concerns about walking
Places too far away to walk 40%
Hazards of crossing intersections 27%
No place to rest 16%
No sidewalks/Sidewalks in poor condition    25%
Crime/personal safety 19%
Personal health issues 22%
Weather or temperature 43%


Three out of four older drivers hit the road five or more days a week

Most older drivers in Tampa Bay use their car or truck fairly regularly. Nearly three out of four (73%) reported driving five or more days in the week prior to the survey. About half (55%) reported driving every day. Just 3% said they had not driven that week.


Days driven in last week*
None 3%
1-2 days 10%
3-4 15%
5-6 18%
Everyday   55%
*Figures sometimes fail to add up to 100% due to rounding.

Days driving car in past 7 days*
  65-69 70-74 75-79 80+
None 3% 3% 2% 2%
1-2 9% 7% 10% 12%
3-4 7% 11% 11% 27%
5-6 20% 18% 19% 15%
Everyday   62% 62% 58% 43%

Aggressive drivers seen as biggest problem on the roadways

When asked about what problems they have encountered in recent years, older drivers cited aggressive drivers (72%), driving at night (47%), traffic congestion (45%), poor weather (35%), fast-moving traffic (32%), small road signs (24%), poor road conditions (22%) and costs (21%).


As Drivers Age, They Change

As drivers get older, some find themselves more likely to be changing what they do - both in the driver's seat and in their lives.


Changes in Lifestyle

Some respondents reported transportation issues had forced them to participate less in recreational and entertainment activities (17%), socializing less (12%), participating in fewer volunteer activities (10%), doing fewer religious and community activities (7%) and exercising less (9%). The oldest respondents reported more changes.


Lifestyle Changes
Age No Changes Changes
65-69 74% 26%
70-74 71% 29%
75-79 61% 39%
80+ 58% 42%
Total 65% 35%

Some of Lifestyle Changes Reported
<
Age Socialize less Less recreation/ entertainment Less exercise Less volunteering Less visits to place of worship/ community activities Less inclined to hold job
65-69 12% 18% 8% 10% 8% 6%
70-748% 15% 5 10% 4% 7%
75-79 9% 19% 11% 7% 6% 6%
80+ 16% 17% 9% 11% 10% 2%
Total 12% 17% 9% 10% 7% 5%


Changes in Driving

As drivers age, most also change how they drive: 76% indicated they had changed the way they drive in some way within the past five years. Nine out of 10 respondents (89%) agreed that they "know ways to change" their driving to keep on the road longer.

Adjusting one's driving habits as one gets older is the norm; it's what most people do. Yet, some safer behaviors - such as avoiding night driving and driving less often - are much more widely undertaken than others that can also be effective. As older drivers share their experiences about aging and driving, they may pick up ideas from each other, such as the concepts of planning ahead, avoiding busy highways, and avoiding dusk and dawn when visibility is difficult.


Changes in the way you drive in last 5 years
Age No Changes Changes
65-69 31% 69%
70-74 27% 73%
75-79 20% 80%
80+ 21% 79%
Total 24% 76%

In the past 5 years, drivers changed the way they drive by …
Age 65-69 70-74 75-79 80+ Overall
Avoid night driving    31% 41% 41% 54% 43%
Avoid rush hour 34% 26% 36% 25% 32%
Drive less 24% 20% 21% 34% 25%
Plan ahead 29% 24% 22% 17% 22%
Don't drive as far 17% 20% 26% 24% 22%
Drive slower 23% 15% 20% 20% 20%
Avoid highways 14% 16% 10% 15% 14%


Desire for driver safety course

Many seniors are also eager to learn more about driving safely. Three out of four (76%) expressed a desire to take a driver safety course.


I want to take a driver safety course*
Strongly Disagree 6%
Disagree 18%
Agree 55%
Strongly Agree 21%
*Figures sometimes fail to add up to 100% due to rounding.

Some Talk - Not A Lot

Despite the changes taking place as drivers age, most older drivers are not talking about the problems they face getting around in the community. More than three quarters of the older drivers surveyed (73%) said they had not had any conversations about the subject in the past six months.


Conversations about "problems .. getting around" in past 6 months
Age None 1 or More
65-69 70% 30%
70-74 69% 29%
75-79 74% 26%
80+ 79% 21%
Overall 74% 26%


Getting In Gear is popular

Seniors were asked that about their interest senior driving assessments and mobility counseling as part of the Getting in Gear program at the Area Agency on Aging in St. Petersburg. Six in ten respondents (61%) agreed they would go to the Getting in Gear program for those services


If I stopped driving, I would go to the Getting in Gear program at the Area Agency on Aging in St. Petersburg because they provide senior assessments and mobility counseling.
Strongly Disagree 14%
Disagree 25%
Agree 49%
Strongly Agree 12%


Sampling Issues

Probably because of the convenience sample methods - targeting older people - older cohorts are slightly over-represented in the sample while the younger age groups (ages 65-69 and 70-74) are underrepresented.

Age 2000 Census* Sample
65-69 100,930 24% 91 22%
70-74 104,026 25% 92 22%
75-79 93,878 22% 109 26%
80+ 120,805 29% 125 30%
*for Pinellas, Hillsborough and Pasco counties.
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