VR Helping Orchid Island Students Practice Driving Tests|蘭嶼機車考照通過率僅5成 VR助學習

Orchid Island has very simple road conditions and no traffic lights. As a result, only half of their residents pass driver's license tests. Recently, a company launched a virtual reality driving system to give students in Orchid Island practice at navigating chaotic traffic conditions common in Taiwan.


Orchid Island junior high school students don virtual reality goggles and begin piloting scooters. The virtual reality driving system simulates roads in Taiwan proper, which are wider and have more cars and stoplights than Orchid Island. Many of the students were puzzled by double yellow lines during their first time using the virtual reality driving system, and some nearly crashed into the vehicles in front of them.

This system was developed by a property insurance company. According to Kaohsiung Motor Vehicles Office, only 50 percent of junior high school students in Orchid Island pass the light-duty motorcycle licensing test, compared to 80 percent on Taiwan proper. It introduced this VR system earlier this year to allow Orchid Island students to practice before taking their tests to help them have a better chance of passing.

We found that Orchid Island's traffic conditions are unique, including its traffic lights and road markings. What we have here may be rare over there.

The office says the outlying islands all have simple road conditions. However, many students on outlying islands come to the main island to study or work. It hopes this VR system will allow them to learn how to safely navigate Taiwan's roads.