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Background: driving anxiety and fear can have a marked impact on mobility and independence, although there is no data on the prevalence of this problem, and specific information about the rate of driving anxiety and fear in older adults is unknown.

Methods: the present study examines the prevalence of self-reported driving anxiety and fear in a sample of 2,491 adults aged 55–72 from a longitudinal survey of health and ageing in New Zealand.

Results: most of the sample (90%) described themselves as drivers who drove daily or weekly. Around 70% of the sample reported no driving anxiety or fear, yet 17–20% endorsed a mild and 4–6% rated a moderate to severe level of driving anxiety and fear. Women reported higher levels of anxiety and fear about driving than men, but there were no age differences. Those who reported some level of driving anxiety engaged various …