Aging in an Automobile-Dependent Society
As societies age, the governance of mobility has emerged as a critical public policy challenge. In highly motorized contexts, the question of how to balance safety, autonomy, and social participation for older adults has become increasingly urgent. This book addresses this challenge through a comprehensive analysis of Japan—the world’s first super-aged society to confront large-scale driving cessation.
Drawing on interdisciplinary research that integrates demographic analysis, transportation studies, and institutional policy evaluation, the book examines how historical patterns of rapid motorization and rural depopulation have shaped contemporary mobility systems. It explores the evolution and limits of policy responses, including licensing reforms, cognitive screening, and technological interventions, while highlighting the structural constraints embedded in automobile-dependent societies.
A distinctive contribution of the volume lies in its comparative perspective. By examining differences between Japan and European countries—particularly the United Kingdom—it demonstrates how divergent historical trajectories produce fundamentally different approaches to mobility governance. Through this lens, the book moves beyond a narrow focus on traffic safety to reframe aging drivers as a broader issue of governance, social equity, and community sustainability. By proposing an integrated framework for mobility governance in aging societies, the book offers both analytical insight and practical guidance.
Masabumi Tokoro, Ph.D., is a Certified Public Psychologist (National Qualification, Japan) and Professor of Industrial and Organizational Psychology at Rissho University. He holds BA, MA, and PhD degrees from Waseda University and has previously served as a visiting professor at the University of Sheffield. His research focuses on aging, mobility, work, and public policy, with particular attention to older drivers, Post-License Life, and the sustainability of local communities in Japan’s super-aged society. He has conducted comparative research on transportation and mobility policy in Japan and Europe and has developed policy-oriented approaches linking psychology with transportation, medicine, welfare, and community support. He is the author of multiple books on older drivers and industrial and organizational psychology and has contributed expert commentary on aging, mobility, and traffic safety to NHK and other national media.