The study, published in the journal ‘Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour,’ revealed older people who still drive have better mental health, have higher levels of social participation and social networks than those who have others do the driving for them. However, researchers found that older people who never learned to drive or who had stopped driving reported higher depressive symptoms and loneliness as well as lower quality of life, fewer social networks and lower rates of social participation compared to their peers who still drive. They also found that older men who had stopped driving and relied on public transportation reported higher levels of loneliness than women who had stopped driving. Project Manager Orna Donoghue, said: “Driving allows a level of freedom and independence that is often not available with public transport and therefore it is hugely important for social engagement, mental health and wellbeing. Retaining public transport links and/or identifying alternative means of providing transport is required, and this is especially pertinent given the current challenges to the provision of public transport.”Online Editors

Source: Irish Independent July 17, 2019 14:15 UTC