U. of Virginia Researchers Study ‘Virtual Reality’ Driving Tests

On-road driving tests, a rite of passage for high school students, could soon join eight-track tape players and bench seats in automotive obsolescence. Researchers at the University of Virginia School of Medicine are studying the effectiveness of virtual reality driving tests with a driving simulator at the Department of Motor Vehicles on Pantops, in Albemarle County, Va. The virtual reality test, said UVa researcher Daniel Cox, is designed to be fairer and more comprehensive than a traditional behind-the-wheel test.