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South Korea will use VR simulators to determine if the elderly are fit to drive. The measure is supposed to make the entire process more objective, as the number of accidents produced by elderly drivers is increasing.
The future is upon us and that is a scary finding for a lot of people. In a not-so-distant time, AI systems will not only control humans but also assess their activities and perhaps even forbid them to do certain things. Sounds scary? It is.
One of the most advanced countries in the world, South Korea is introducing a new method to test elderly drivers who want to keep driving their cars beyond the age of 65. That is, a VR computer will determine who gets to drive and who must settle with a bus. The measure is pushed by the Korean National Police Agency (KNPA) to go live as early as 2025.
The VR tests that will become mandatory for drivers of 65 years old will assess driving, cognitive, and memory skills using a VR headset. This is close to how virtual reality technology is used in dementia clinics to check the brain functions of older people.
The test is conducted in a simulator and measures various driving behaviors under many different driving conditions, to examine the participants’ visual acuity. The virtual simulations include two scenarios: daytime and nighttime highway driving. In both cases, three unexpected incidents were created to test the drivers’ performance.
While many countries around the world mandate elderly drivers to take driving exams periodically, the Korean method tries to eliminate the subjectiveness of the examiner. Especially when he identifies the driver under assessment with his grandpa or grandma.
Unlike other countries, South Korea has no strict regulations regarding the driving license of seniors, unless they test positive for dementia or other illnesses. Currently, local legislation mandates o three-year license renewal period for those aged 75 years and older and the voluntary return of the driver’s license for people over 65 years old.
KNPA is raising concerns over the increasing number of accidents attributed to senior driving, especially in a country with an aging population. This is happening as vision deteriorates with age, especially during nighttime driving. According to police statistics, the number of seniors holding a driver’s license has increased by 300% (from 1 million to 3 million) between 2008 and 2018.
One of the most advanced countries in the world, South Korea is introducing a new method to test elderly drivers who want to keep driving their cars beyond the age of 65. That is, a VR computer will determine who gets to drive and who must settle with a bus. The measure is pushed by the Korean National Police Agency (KNPA) to go live as early as 2025.
The VR tests that will become mandatory for drivers of 65 years old will assess driving, cognitive, and memory skills using a VR headset. This is close to how virtual reality technology is used in dementia clinics to check the brain functions of older people.
The test is conducted in a simulator and measures various driving behaviors under many different driving conditions, to examine the participants’ visual acuity. The virtual simulations include two scenarios: daytime and nighttime highway driving. In both cases, three unexpected incidents were created to test the drivers’ performance.
While many countries around the world mandate elderly drivers to take driving exams periodically, the Korean method tries to eliminate the subjectiveness of the examiner. Especially when he identifies the driver under assessment with his grandpa or grandma.
Unlike other countries, South Korea has no strict regulations regarding the driving license of seniors, unless they test positive for dementia or other illnesses. Currently, local legislation mandates o three-year license renewal period for those aged 75 years and older and the voluntary return of the driver’s license for people over 65 years old.
KNPA is raising concerns over the increasing number of accidents attributed to senior driving, especially in a country with an aging population. This is happening as vision deteriorates with age, especially during nighttime driving. According to police statistics, the number of seniors holding a driver’s license has increased by 300% (from 1 million to 3 million) between 2008 and 2018.
Google News