Aging & Society: Eighth Interdisciplinary Conference

Abstract

Previous studies have pointed that older drivers tend to regulate their driving behaviours based on self-assessment of driving. Therefore, it is important to assess their own driving correctly as well as reflect self-assessment in self-regulation of driving. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between self-assessment skill and self-regulation in older drivers. Forty Japanese drivers aged 70 years or older were asked to respond to a questionnaire, including self-rated items of own driving, and scales of beliefs about driving. Participants were also asked to undergo an on-road driving evaluation. In the driving evaluation, participants were equipped with sensors for recording driving behaviours and driving instructors in the passenger seats rated participants’ driving. Participants also completed functional tests. To score self-assessment skill, self-rated scores of driving were subtracted from scores rated by instructors. We found that self-assessment skill was associated with driving behaviours at certain intersections. However, overestimators tended to employ some reckless behaviours such as looking less frequently to the right, although they tended to employ some cautious behaviours such as obeying stop regulation more than underestimators did. Results suggested that overestimation of own driving might result in not performing some aspects of self-regulation, while employing other self-regulation aspects might lead to overestimation of own safety.