Holly Gwyther
Carol Holland



Highlights

•We qualitatively review feelings of vulnerability on driving behaviour.
•Triggering events, challenging circumstances, passengers and risk perception increase feelings of vulnerability.
•Feeling vulnerable can result in self-regulation and over-regulation and can constrain life choices.



Keywords
Driving behaviour; Coping; Feelings of vulnerability; Older adults



Abstract
Feelings of vulnerability in driving can be considered an emotional response to risk perception and the coping strategies adopted could have implications for continued mobility. In a series of focus groups with 48 licensed drivers aged 18–75 years, expressions of vulnerability in driver coping behaviours were examined. Despite feelings of vulnerability appearing low, qualitative thematic analysis revealed a complex array of coping strategies in everyday driving including planning, use of ‘co-pilots’, self-regulation, avoidance and confrontive coping, i.e. intentional aggression toward other road users. The findings inform future intervention studies to enable appropriate coping strategy selection and prolong independent mobility in older adults.



Article Outline
1. Introduction
1.1. Study aims

2. Method
2.1. Participants
2.2. Procedure
2.3. Analysis

3. Results
3.1. Triggering events
3.2. Influence of personal risk biases
3.3. Challenging circumstances
3.4. The influence of passengers, ‘co-pilots’ and assistive devices

4. Discussion
4.1. Study limitations

5. Conclusions
Funding
Acknowledgements
References



Tables
   
Table 1. Interview topics.

Table 2. Composition of focus groups.