Understanding the role of metacognitive awareness in the self-regulation of driving among older adults

• Senior drivers tended to report stable or improved driving-related skills. • Metacognitive awareness supported two distinct self-regulatory pathways. • Awareness of thoughts and emotions was linked to increased driving regulation. • Awareness of attention was linked to reduced inattention and regulation. • Metacognitive skills may help older drivers manage their attention and behaviour. Introduction : Metacognitive awareness, the ability to be aware of and regulate one’s internal processes, may play a role in how effectively older drivers both manage their attention and assess their driving capabilities. Method: This study investigated the links between self-reported metacognitive awareness, subjective changes in driving skills, driving inattention, and driving regulation in a sample ( N = 713) of Australian drivers aged 60 years and older. Results: The results showed that most participants reported minimal change in their driving skills over the past few years, with higher proportions reporting improvements rather than decline. Comparative analyses indicated that participants who rated their cognitive-motor skills as improved scored higher in metacognitive evaluation, metacognitive awareness of driving attention, and driving quantity, but lower in driving inattention, regulation, and age. Bivariate correlations revealed significant associations between metacognitive evaluation, metacognitive awareness whilst driving, subjective changes in driving skills, driving inattention, and the regulation of driving. However, follow-up path analysis suggested the interrelationships between these constructs were complex. Where greater metacognitive evaluation and awareness of attention were linked with improved driving attention and a decreased tendency to regulate driving, metacognitive evaluation and awareness of thoughts and feelings were tied with greater subjective safety-behavior skills and an increased tendency to regulate driving. Practical applications: The findings suggest that metacognitive awareness may support safer driving behaviors among older adults by encouraging appropriate regulation of driving and enhancing attention management.