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Open research questions in Older Adults Driving Studies

42 unresolved questions extracted from the limitations and future-work sections of 876 Older Adults Driving Studies papers in our library. Each links back to the study that raised it.

What the literature leaves open

  • Several limitations should be considered when interpreting these findings. First, the study was based on a cross-sectional survey conducted in the Athens metropolitan area, which limits transferability to other settings with different transport conditions, infrastructure, and cultural attitudes. In addition, the sample was purposive and included elements of conve- nience-based recruitment, which restricts representativeness and external validity. Second, although older adults and people with reduced mobility share some transport bar- riers, they should not be treated as a homogeneous group. In this study, the two populations were analysed together to examine shared mobility-related constraints, but the subgroup sizes were insufficient to support disaggregated modelling across age and mobility-status categories. Accordingly, the findings should be interpreted as exploratory evidence from a pooled sample of transport-disadvantaged respondents, rather than as precise comparisons between distinct subgroups. Third, the study did not collect a detailed clinical or functional classification of impair- ment severity, and some impairment categories were represented by very small numbers. The mobility-related sample consisted mainly of respondents with general health-related mobility difficulties or mobility impairments requiring assistive devices, while visual impairment was rare. Therefore, the findings should not be interpreted as representative of disability populations more broadly. Another limitation is that the study did not explicitly examine psychological constructs such as trust in automation, perceived behavioural control, technology anxiety, risk toler- ance, or attitudes towards innovation. The analysis therefore captures stated evaluations of service attributes rather than the deeper cognitive and affective mechanisms that may influ- ence SAV acceptance. Future research should incorporate validated psychometric measures to address these dimensions more directly. Finally, SAVs were assessed as a hypothetical mobility service. Despite the use of a stan- dardised explanation, visual prompts, and on-site clarification, participants had no direct experience with actual SAV operations. Some accessibility-related concerns may therefore reflect anticipated rather than experienced conditions. Despite these limitations, the study provides exploratory evidence on how older adults and people with reduced mobility perceive SAVs in Athens. Although the scope of inference is limited, the findings help identify the factors most closely associated with willingness to use SAVs and perceptions of their societal value. 1 3Transportation Future research Future research should examine how perceptions of SAVs change through direct exposure and repeated interaction, as earlier studies suggest that familiarity with automated mobil- ity services can reduce concerns and improve acceptance over time. Studies with larger and more diverse samples are also needed to support more robust subgroup analysis across age, mobility status, and impairment type. In addition, future research should incorporate validated psychometric measures to capture psychological constructs such as trust in auto- mation, perceived behavioural control, technology anxiety, and risk tolerance more directly, thereby providing a more comprehensive understanding of the cognitive and affective mechanisms that shape SAV acceptance among transport-disadvantaged users. Survey- based evidence should also be complemented by pilot demonstrations, qualitative inter- views, and real-world trials, so that stated perceptions can be examined alongside observed responses under actual service conditions. Comparative research across different European settings would further clarify how infrastructural, cultural, and socio-spatial conditions influence acceptance, while more targeted studies are needed to explore the perspectives of underrepresented groups, including people with sensory, cognitive, or more severe mobility impairments.

    Shared autonomous vehicles and inclusive mobility: perceptions of older adults and people with reduced mobility in Athens, Greece · 2026 · DOI

  • However, little is known about how drivers with HVFL scan in daily driving because most prior studies have been conducted in a driving simulator or during a road test in an unfamiliar vehicle.

    Head Scanning by Drivers With Left Homonymous Visual Field Loss: A Naturalistic Driving Pilot Study · 2026 · DOI

  • Emerging research focuses on improving identification of drivers at risk through multidomain and technology-based assessment approaches. Digital risk prediction models integrating visual, cognitive, and demographic factors may provide more accurate estimates of driving safety than single-test screening. Advances in functional vision assessment, including digital visual field and contrast sensitivity measures and computerized cognitive–visual testing, may also improve clinical evaluation of driving ability. An important area for future research is the development of functionally relevant, sensory-adapted mobility measures that better capture how individuals with visual impairment interact with real-world driving environments. Such approaches may help bridge the gap between clinical ● Nguyen H, Luca Di Tanna G, Coxon K, Brown J, Ren K, Ramke J, et al. Associations between vision impairment and driving performance and the effectiveness of vision-related interventions: A systematic review. Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives. 2023 Jan;17:100753. h t t p s: / / d o i. o r g / 1 0. 1 0 1 6 / j. t r i p. 2 0 2 2. 1 0 0 7 5 3. ○ This recent systematic review is highly relevant because it synthesizes evidence linking visual impairment with driving performance and reviews the effectiveness of vision-related interventions. It also highlights that multiple visual domains, rather than visual acuity alone, are relevant to driving safety. ● Stamatelos P, Economou A, Yannis G, Stefanis L, Papageorgiou SG. Parkinson’s Disease and Driving 1 3Current Treatment Options in Neurology (2026) 28:11 Fitness: A Systematic Review of the Existing Guidelines. Mov Disord Clin Pract. 2024 Mar;11(3):198–208. https:/ /doi.or g/10.10 02/md c3.13942. ○ This reference is particularly important because it systematically reviews existing guidance on driving fitness in Parkinson’s disease and shows that multidomain assessment, including motor, cognitive, visual, sleep, and medication-related factors, is emphasized, while specific test recommendations and cutoff values remain inconsistent. ● Biassoni F, Gnerre M. Understanding Elderly Drivers’ Perception of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems: A Systematic Review of Perceived Risks, Trust, Ease of Use, and Usefulness. Geriatrics. 2024 Nov 5;9(6):144. https:/ /doi.or g/10.33 90/ge riatrics9060144. ○ This systematic review is relevant because it examines factors influencing older adults’ acceptance and use of ADAS, including trust, perceived usefulness, safety, and ease of use. It is useful for understanding barriers to real-world adoption of these technologies in older drivers. ● García-Lozada D, Rivera-Pinzón F, Ibáñez-Pinilla E. Relationship Between Visual Acuity, Colour Vision, Contrast Sensitivity and Stereopsis, and Road Traffic Accidents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Safety. 2025 Jul 28;11(3):71. h t t p s: / / d o i. o r g / 1 0. 3 3 9 0 / s a f e t y 1 1 0 3 0 0 7 1. ○ This recent meta-analysis is useful because it compares several visual domains in relation to road traffic accidents and shows that evidence is stronger and more consistent for some settings and driver groups than others. It also reinforces that visual acuity alone is an incomplete marker of driving risk. ● Livingston G, Huntley J, Liu KY, Costafreda SG, Selbæk G, Alladi S, et al. Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: 2024 report of the Lancet Standing Commission. Lancet. 2024;404(10452):572–628. https:/ /doi.or g/10.10 16/S0 140-6736(24)01296-0.

    Visual Impairment and Driving in Older Adults: A Narrative Review · 2026 · DOI

  • BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: With the expansion of low-income urban areas in low and middle-income countries (LMIC), the recognition of leisure opportunities for older women remains under-researched.

    Mobilities and leisure in later ages: The role of religious tourism in the lives of low-income older women in India · 2024 · DOI

  • Future research should focus on identifying meaningful GPS-derived mobility measures and developing standardized protocols for GPS administration and data analytics for comparison across studies.

    GPS Tracking Technologies to Measure Mobility-Related Behaviors in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Systematic Review · 2020 · DOI

  • The present paper proposes, on both theoretical and empirical grounds, that attentional skills in relation to driving should be examined in older adults with and without DAT.

    Attention and Driving Skills in Aging and Alzheimer's Disease · 1991 · DOI

  • Although the long‑term viability and equity of these options remain uncertain, the evidence points to companionship‑oriented services as a viable complement to traditional public transportation.

    Active ageing, social inclusion, and public transportation: A policy analysis and narrative review · 2026 · DOI

  • This suggests that caution is warranted when adopting policy approaches, such as funding formula differences, designed to account for assumed (but not documented) differences in rural and urban programs, such as staff travel time.

    Staff Travel Time in Rural- and Urban-Serving Infants and Toddlers With Disabilities (Part C) Programs in Kansas · 2024 · DOI

  • GPS use pervades society; however, its effects on an individuals' navigation ability are not well understood.

    GPS use and navigation ability: A systematic review and meta-analysis · 2024 · DOI

  • Since there is very limited research on senior citizens’ behavioural intentions to travel, the current study adds to the body of knowledge by identifying the additional factors that affect the same.

    Unveiling the antecedents of senior citizens <sup>′</sup> behavioural intentions to travel: A mixed-method approach · 2022 · DOI

  • However, the potential impact of spatial accessibility to urban parks on older adults’ mental health was under-researched, particularly in regard to various spatial scales and transport modes.

    Urban park accessibility and the mental health of older adults: a case study of Haidian District, Beijing · 2022 · DOI

  • Previous studies have described powered wheelchairs as a mixed blessing for the users in terms of usability, accessibility, safety, cost and stigma; however, few studies have explored their impact on mobility and participation over time.

    Mobility and participation among ageing powered wheelchair users: using a lifecourse approach · 2018 · DOI

  • CONCLUSIONS: These results highlight the need for further research into the constraints faced by people with mobility disabilities with regard to visiting green spaces.

    A nationwide Danish survey on the use of green spaces by people with mobility disabilities · 2017 · DOI

  • Transportation voucher programs represent a cost‐effective way to provide access to transportation for people with disabilities, but few studies have empirically examined the effectiveness of such programs.

    Benefits and Quality of Life Outcomes From Transportation Voucher Use by Adults With Disabilities · 2013 · DOI

  • However, it remains to be determined whether the drivers who engage in self-regulation have insight into their own driving abilities or whether external factors result in self-regulation of driving behaviour.

    Self‐regulation of older drivers with cognitive impairment: A systematic review · 2013 · DOI

  • Abstract Despite an increasing number of workers requiring to travel extensively in carrying out their work, there are significant gaps in knowledge related to how business travellers make use of journey time.

    Driving, Communicating and Working: Understanding the Work-related Communication Behaviours of Business Travellers on Work-related Car Journeys · 2012 · DOI

  • The correlation between photopic visual acuity, the most commonly used test when assessing elderly drivers, and night driving ability has not yet been fully clarified.

    Vision and Night Driving Abilities of Elderly Drivers · 2012 · DOI

  • While much of the research on aging and driving has focused on sensory and motor changes, little is known about older drivers and the actual self-regulation adjustments they employ to continue driving safely.

    A Qualitative Exploration of Self-Regulation Behaviors Among Older Drivers · 2008 · DOI

  • RESULTS: Although limited by the cross-sectional design, the study showed that new urbanism partially explained several differences in service use and activity: distance to a grocery store (r2 change = .

    Urban Form and Older Residents' Service Use, Walking, Driving, Quality of Life, and Neighborhood Satisfaction · 2004 · DOI

  • Out-of-state mobility to amenity destinations is not limited to the elderly, but younger, married, more affluent elderly were more likely to make such moves.

    Distinctively Elderly Mobility: Types and Determinants · 1985 · DOI

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42 open questions have been extracted from the limitations and future-work passages of 876 Older Adults Driving Studies papers in our library. Each one below links back to the study that raised it, so you can read the original claim in context.

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