Near peripheral motion contrast threshold predicts older drivers' simulator performance

► We measured thresholds for 0.4 cpd drifting sine wave gratings in near periphery. ► Older driver thresholds were higher than younger driver thresholds. ► UFOV2 scores related strongly to older driver thresholds. ► Thresholds and UFOV2 strongly predicted older driver simulator performance. ► Peripheral motion threshold may capture age-related bottom-up attention failure.