On the Road Safety: Gender Differences in Risk-Taking Driving Behaviors Among Seniors Aged 65 and Older

It is now online the article:

“ On the Road Safety: Gender Differences in Risk-Taking Driving Behaviors Among Seniors Aged 65 and Olde r”

by Pierluigi Cordellieri, Laura Piccardi, Marco

Giancola, Anna Maria Giannini, and Raffaella Nori, published in Geriatrics.

This article aims to fill the gap in evidence regarding the role of gender in risk-taking

among individuals over 65. The current study aims to investigate the relationship between

gender and risk propensity in this particular age group. The primary goal was to determine

if driving experience affects the gender gap in risk attitude. We studied risk behavior in

both car drivers and pedestrians. Our sample included 200 individuals (101 women), all

over 65, with the exact weekly driving times. After a brief demographic and anamnestic

interview, they completed the Driver Road Risk Perception Scale (DRPS) and the

Pedestrian Behavior Appropriateness Perception Scale (PBAS) questionnaires. They also

provided information about traffic violations and road crashes. Our research revealed that

older male drivers continue to tend to risky behavior, highlighting the need for targeted

interventions to improve risk awareness, especially among older men. Our findings

suggest that road safety messages should specifically target male drivers as they are less

likely to view responsible driving actions, such as observing speed limits, as desirable.