The Automobile Driver On-Road Performance Test (ADOPT) was developed during a three-phase project. In Phase 1, 51 candidate behaviours were identified and selected with the help of experts in the fields of traffic safety, measurement of driver performance, and driver licensing. In Phase 2, candidate behaviours were subjected to testing to determine their measurability and the best methods for achieving valid and reliable measurement. Relevant criteria for use in assessing performance were established. During Phase 3, the ADOPT was developed and documented in two manuals, one for administrators and one for examiners. The 10-minute test uses an objective scoring system and assesses specific performances at designated locations only. It is administered by one examiner. The ADOPT was pilot-tested in Oklahoma to assess its reliability and validity. Following the pilot test, the ADOPT was modified to improve overall reliability and validity. The revised version was field tested, again in Oklahoma. Results showed the ADOPT to be a reliable measure of the on-road performance of license applicants. It is primarily a measure of driver skill, which serves as an indirect measure of safe driving practices. Intercorrelation of applicant scores across examiners and across routes exceeds .8 and .7, respectively.
Abstract