Evaluating the Impacts of Age and Health on Different Aspects of Mobility and Driving Behaviors
This research project conducted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) AgeLab is set against the backdrop of an aging American population, with an increasing emphasis on maintaining driving ability and mobility in older age. This study aims to explore two main questions: the dynamics surrounding older adults' decisions to retire from driving and their subsequent mobility transitions, and how older adults' self-reported driving behaviors are influenced by their age, health, and access to vehicle technologies. Utilizing existing data sets, including a nationally representative survey on driving habits and the MIT AgeLab’s Lifestyle Leaders Panel data from individuals aged 85 or older, the study will analyze patterns of self-regulation in driving, the use of advanced vehicle technologies, and the effects of health and age on driving behaviors including distracted driving. The project also plans to integrate findings from annual surveys on attitudes towards automation, encompassing a variety of transportation modes and technologies. Key goals include generating insights for public outreach materials, enhancing support for older adults in driving retirement decisions, and contributing to academic and professional discourse through conferences and peer-reviewed publications. Involving young researchers and undergraduate interns, this study aims to deepen our understanding of mobility and driving behavior among older adults and to inform interventions for safer and more supportive transportation options for this demographic.
Language
- English
Project
- Status: Active
- Funding: $300000
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Contract Numbers:
69A3552348301
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Sponsor Organizations:
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology
University Transportation Centers Program
Department of Transportation
Washington, DC United States 20590 -
Managing Organizations:
University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
130 Natural Resources Road
Amherst, MA United States 01003 -
Performing Organizations:
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge
77 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA United States 02139 -
Principal Investigators:
Coughlin, Joseph
D'Ambrosio, Lisa
Lee, Chaiwoo
- Start Date: 20240101
- Expected Completion Date: 20241231
- Actual Completion Date: 0
- USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers Program
- Subprogram: University Transportation Centers
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Age; Attitudes; Distracted driving; Driving; Driving cessation; Health; Mobility; Surveys
- Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Society;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01905384
- Record Type: Research project
- Source Agency: New England University Transportation Center
- Contract Numbers: 69A3552348301
- Files: UTC, RIP
- Created Date: Jan 23 2024 2:11PM