Seniors' perceived driving skill in a postlicense training program: comparison of instructors' assessments and self-assessments by seniors' age and sex.

ABSTRACT

This exploratory study was carried out during a postlicense training program for senior drivers. The aim was to study driving-ability assessments made by 37 older drivers and by instructors, according to age (< 72 yr.; > 72 yr.) and sex. After an open-road test course, both the older drivers' self-assessments and the instructors' assessments were collected on an ad hoc questionnaire that considered both general and specific aspects of driving ability. The seniors' ratings of their own driving ability were consistent with the instructors' ratings, at both levels considered. For general driving ability, men were evaluated more positively than were women, both by themselves and by the instructors. For specific aspects of driving, men got higher ratings than did women for driving on roundabouts. Concerning driving on four-lane roads, men in the younger senior group (< 72 yr.) were assessed more positively than were women in that group, whereas no significant gender-related difference was found among the older seniors. Concerning visual skills, the younger participants assessed their own visual skills more positively than did the older participants. In contrast, the instructors' assessments of the younger and older seniors were not significantly different. The results are discussed in terms of possible ways of improving training programs for licensed senior drivers.