Predicting Driving Performance in Older Adults with the Useful Field of View Test: a Meta-analysis

This investigation examines the Useful Field of View (specifically the UFOV test), as a predictor of objective measures of driving performance. PubMed and PsycInfo databases were searched to retrieve eight independent studies reporting bivariate relationships between the UFOV test and driving measures (driving simulator performance, state-recorded crashes, and on-road driving). Cumulative meta-analysis techniques were used to examine the predictive utility of the test, to determine whether the effect size was stable across studies, and to assess whether a sufficient number of studies have been conducted to conclude that the test is an effective predictor of driving competence. Results showed that the study samples could have been drawn from the same population. The weighted mean effect size across all studies revealed a large effect, Cohen’s d=0.945, with poorer UFOV test performance associated with negative driving outcomes. This relationship was robust across multiple indices of driving performance and several research laboratories. A concrete measure of sufficiency revealed that an additional 513 studies averaging a null result must be conducted to bring the p-value for the cumulative effect size to greater than .05. This convergence of evidence across different points in time and different research teams confirms the importance of the UFOV assessment as a valid and reliable index of driving performance and safety. Corroborating this finding, a recent large field study in Maryland has further established the UFOV test as a useful screening instrument to identify at-risk older drivers. Taken together, these findings could have far-reaching implications for public policy.