In South Korea, the National Police Agency wants to test people over 65 from 2025.
Video games, training aircraft pilots or treating phobias… Today, virtual reality (VR) is widely used, but a new method will arrive in 2025 in South Korea. Thanks to VR headsets, the National Police Agency wants to test people over 65 to see if they can still get behind the wheel. According to national news agency Yonhap, all the senses will be combed through: leadership skills, cognitive abilities, memory and attention. At the moment, the exact content of the test has not been disclosed by the authorities.
Starting next year and for a period of three years, they will conduct a study to create the most relevant and effective test possible. In all, 1.2 billion won (900,000 euros) will be allocated to this unique plan and is expected to reach 3.6 billion won (2.7 million euros). If the test goes into effect, new rules in Korean law can be implemented in 2025. Among them, a medical visit with tests that include virtual reality will become mandatory for the elderly.
The initiative comes on the heels of a 2018 study by the country’s police. It shows that among 10,000 South Korean drivers, the elderly were 1.86 times more likely to be involved in road accidents than those in their 30s. South Korea is also facing steady growth in the number of people aged 65 and over, currently accounting for 16.5% of the total population.
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