Focus group study of older drivers

The report describes findings from a study exploring the driving practices and driving-related beliefs and attitudes of older persons. The methodology employed was a modified focus group technique. Participants, 162 currently licensed drivers aged 56-86 living in five different geographic locations in British Columbia met in 31small groups (mean size 5.2 persons) to discuss eight topics. These topics concerned their driving practices; attitudes and I beliefs about their own and other older persons' driving behaviour; their driving difficulties; ways in which road or traffic signs and signals could be changed to make driving easier for them; their feelings about a series of questions relating to the retesting of older drivers, criteria for licence renewal and driving cessation; concerning driver education courses for older persons, traffic violations they most frequently commit and their experience of medication affecting their driving. Throughout the report data are presented separately for respondents aged 55-65, 66-75 and 76 and over. Where noticeable, differences between the three age groups are highlighted.