Does racing games cause bad driving?
By taiguy
@taiguy (478)
United States
March 20, 2007 3:59pm CST
According to some research by Ludwig-Maximilians University, Munich people who play computer or video virtual racing games are more dangerous when they take to the wheel for real.
The study found that the drivers were more liable to take risks on the road, more likely to race other drivers and to overtake, and were more agressive. It also concluded that people who had played the on-screen games also had a slower reaction time, and be more likely to be involved in an accident.
Personally, I find that I am a safer driver after playing these games. Instead of attempting to race all the time I choose safe moments to "play around".
Do you feel "virtual racers" are more dangerous on the road? If so, why?
2 people like this
3 responses
@mitchb (254)
• United States
20 Mar 07
There is a catch to the study. It was performed on a driving simulator not in real-life driving situations. It would be more interesting to see how the test subjects performed driving home from the study. I play racing games and although I enjoy them there is a big difference when I sit down behind the wheel of my real car. I would be more interested in a study comparing NASCAR fans driving habits with non-NASCAR fans. Bet there would be a real big difference there.
This is all pointless anyway as there have always been aggressive drivers and until vehicles are all computer driven there always will be.
1 person likes this
@taiguy (478)
• United States
20 Mar 07
That is interesting to know. Speaking of racing games there was actually a driver last year who spent his entire practice time before a game playing a racing simulation of the same track. Unfortunately I remember neither the driver nor the track. Regardless he did exceptionally well.
1 person likes this
@paradisesuns (1755)
• United States
21 Mar 07
I'm sorry, this might be off the topic just a little, but many years ago in high school when those driving simulators first came out...well I remember all the kids in my class would wait for the teacher to leave the room...and then we would put the peddle to the metal!!...sorry if I got off topic...lol...oops, just had to confess it...lol
2 people like this
@Kappen (52)
• United States
2 Apr 07
There have been plenty of times I've played -any- game involving cars, whether it be racing, grand theft auto, driver, stuntman, and I've gotten all pumped up about doing sweet crap and driving real fast.
Then, when I get into my real car, I think about how sweet it would be to do that same stuff, and then I realize my car is a slow piece of crap, and more importantly, I don't feel like dieing today.
1 person likes this
@paradisesuns (1755)
• United States
21 Mar 07
Personally I would say it would sharpen your reactions to driving.I don't think it would make a person careless or wreckless.I'd rather have those people on the road than the ones reading books,putting on make-up,or talking on cell phones. No I don't think their more dangerous...no way.
1 person likes this
@taiguy (478)
• United States
2 Apr 07
Fairly intersting subject. When I was an avid video games player the biggest thing I noticed is that after playing the video game I no longer had any agression. Meaning in regular life I would be very calm. I would propose the same thing for the driving game -- honed skills and no compulsion to speed. Alot of it probably just has to do with what sort of person one is, I guess.
