In order to obtain an initial impression regarding the problems of mobility, autonomy and quality of life, related to transport, of people over 65 years of age in Spain, a study was proposed. For this purpose, a questionnaire was elaborated with varied questions (non-systemized) about the personal situation of the interviewee, his/her degree of autonomy, his/her mobility needs and the means most utilized. Attitudes toward driving, together with the psycho-technical test required for drivers in Spain (which at this age has to be taken every year), have also been gathered by means of direct questions and by including a version of the ETCAR questinnnaire on recklessness in driving by Reig and Soler (1986) modified by the author of this study, Monterde (1989), including a sincerity subscale. The pilot sample was made up of 74 men and women of more than 65 years of age, who are or have been drivers, chosen randomly in diverse towns which were also selected randomly, in the province of Valencia. The main reason given by elderly people for retaining a driving licence was to remain independent, followed by visiting and shopping. The preferred urban transport mode for the future was underground railway, followed by buses. The main complaint about current Spanish drivers was excessive speed. A major requirement for a car is to attend hospital appointments. Old people were mostly in favour of compulsory examination of their fitness to drive. For the covering abstract see ITRD E122795.
Abstract