SOCIAL STRUCTURES AND PROCESSES IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE TRANSPORTATION. A COMMENTARY ON: LIMITATIONS OF MASS TRANSPORTATION AND INDIVIDUAL VEHICLE SYSTEMS FOR OLDER PERSONS. IN: MOBILITY AND TRANSPORTATION IN THE ELDERLY

This paper describes the challenge of the present and the future is giving older adults and their family's options that facilitate the transition from driving to not driving. Older adults themselves, their spouses, and other family members want support from physicians, law enforcement, and departments of motor vehicles and access to evaluation centers when needed. At the same time, opportunities for evaluation and retraining can make it possible for older adults to drive longer. Family members are unable to identify unsafe driving behavior and take action to stop unsafe older drivers. Often, because of a lock of alternative transportation, family members wait to take actions. In some families, individuals are not able to deal with driving cessation issue because of retribution or inability to influence their older family member. Other adults and families need to recognize that a problem may exist and to receive information to effectively facilitate that transition to nondriving. Family and friends will intervene if they feel a social responsibility and care about the problem older driver.