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A British driving institution believes playing a racing video game before driving will make drivers speed and act more recklessly

Video game violence in genres such as first person shooters and massively multiplayer online role playing games (MMORPGs) recently became two genres that governments and child safety watch groups have scrutinized.  However, a recent study has once again shifted the concern back over to racing games.  

The British driving institution BSM conducted a study that reportedly found that young drivers who finished playing a racing game were more likely to speed and drive recklessly -- in fact, more than a third of young drivers between the ages of 16 and 24 may ultimately drive faster.  Around 27% of drivers under the age of 24 also admitted that they were more likely to take risks after gaming, according to the study.    

A quarter of the drivers questioned in the survey went as far as to say that they imagine they are in a driving simulation game while they are actually driving -- men are more likely to report this than women.

"Drivers should be careful not to get caught up in a virtual driving world," said Robin Cummins, BSM road safety consultant.  Cummins believes the research BSM did shows an 'indisputable' link between racing video games and dangerous driving in the real world.

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I'm sure it's just backwards
By cubby1223 on 3/5/2007 5:34:24 AM , Rating: 3
Study should be, young adults who speed are more likely to play racing video games. Not the other way around.

I can say though from personal experience, video game driving once saved me on the road during a bad winter storm when I lost control. Instinctively, I reacted as if I were playing a video game, and everything worked out perfectly. I did a full 360 on the road and regained control exactly when I needed to keep moving straight down the road. Thank you video games.




By Omega215D on 3/5/2007 6:07:46 AM , Rating: 2
It's mostly kids trying to imitate those street racers that came about before these games from dragsters to tuned imports shown in movies like Fast and Furious and it's sequel.


RE: I'm sure it's just backwards
By JustKidding on 3/5/2007 8:18:04 AM , Rating: 2
I think you are right. These type of studies always draw the conclusions to support whatever assumptions the researchers had when they started it. The old A implies B thing. So if those studied also happened to say, eat bananas, one could conclude that eating bananas leads to reckless driving.:P Though in your case, you have shown the value of simulators for training. Of course video games could have some influence, as do many things. These 'watch groups' really should take the television commercials for selling cars to task. Have you ever seen one that doesn't show the driver flying through the streets? Unlike a video game, where it is clearly a game, these commercials portray this rediculous driving as perfectly normal and completely without consequence.


RE: I'm sure it's just backwards
By TomZ on 3/5/2007 8:54:07 AM , Rating: 3
Very true - it's much easier to prove correlation than causation. Showing that A and B are statistically correlated does not prove that A causes B (or vice versa).


RE: I'm sure it's just backwards
By masher2 (blog) on 3/5/2007 9:23:05 AM , Rating: 2
I've said it countless times-- correlation does not prove causation. It's a common logical fallacy, particularly loved by psychological researchers and AP journalists.


RE: I'm sure it's just backwards
By Transcendental Ego on 3/5/2007 2:25:48 PM , Rating: 2
I agree with what you are saying, but you also can't dismiss a theory by just crying out "Logical Fallacy". I may be true that A does not cause B but there could always be a connection between A and B.


By masher2 (blog) on 3/5/2007 5:26:08 PM , Rating: 1
You are correct, but I certainly haven't dismissed the theory. However, in the absence of causative proof, all that correlation does (particularly a weak correlation as observed in this study) is to imply a causative link. As far as I can tell, the researchers haven't even taken the elementary step of trying to eliminate a "common cause" false signal, so I don't put a lot of stock in this "research".

One has to remember that, in the academic world, the mantra "publish or perish" rules. So publish they do...even in the soft-headed field of psychology which, 99% of the time, passes off the psueo-science of survey statistics as real research. That's not to say that real research doesn't get done once in a while...but its uncommonly rare.


By Spivonious on 3/5/2007 9:25:58 AM , Rating: 4
My parents laugh when I tell them, but I agree with you. I feel driving games have greatly improved my driving abilities. Sure, actually spinning is a lot scarier than spinning in a game, but the game has taught me what to do in case of traction loss. It's still scary to hit that patch of ice and feel the car start to go sideways, but *knock on wood* nothing serious has happened yet.

What they really need to do is stop showing SUVs plowing through snow at 40mph in the car commercials. For some reason people think 4WD helps you stop on ice.


By isaacmacdonald on 3/5/2007 11:06:47 AM , Rating: 2
Totally agree. I've been playing racings sims for quite a while, and have encountered a few situations where instincts have saved me. Of course instincts probably won't help if you're used to playing with a controller or games with cartoon physics (eg: NFS, Midnight Club, Outrun, etc).


RE: I'm sure it's just backwards
By treesloth on 3/5/2007 11:24:50 AM , Rating: 3
There's nothing in the article to suggest that; if anything, the opposite is implied. From the original BBC article:

More than a third of young drivers are more likely to go faster on the roads after playing on-screen driving games, a survey suggests.

And 27% of motorists aged under 24 admitted more risk-taking on the road after a gaming session.

The usual way to test such a thing is to have a control group that plays, say, Papa Smurf in Never-Never Land, and a test group that plays the driving game. They play for a set period, then go drive and answer study questions. One group had higher aggression than the other. The two groups are as identical as possible other than the game played.

So, what specific elements from the study allow for the "backwards" theory to be probable?


By True Strike on 3/5/2007 5:15:13 PM , Rating: 2
Papa Smurf in Never-Never Land...I wonder what genre that game would be? You should run that idea by EA, maybe they will make a BF2 like FPS out of it...then not patch it properly for a year. (ie. I hit the prone button first, I win the gunfight)


By Christobevii3 on 3/5/2007 1:37:19 PM , Rating: 2
Sorta like saying those who look at porn are more likely to have sex?


It's SLIGHTLY possible...
By theprodigalrebel on 3/5/2007 5:12:27 AM , Rating: 2
Sometimes, when I watch a late-night screening of a movie with a great car/bike chase sequence in the climax, me and my friends do drive a little more dangerously than normal. But then again, everybody likes the feeling of empty streets at 2AM. Odd thing is, it never happened after a GTA/Need for Speed marathon - just movies.

This study is definitely a lot more believable than those that link FPSs to murderous rampages. No one is ever going to convince me on 'gaming causes murderous instincts'.




RE: It's SLIGHTLY possible...
By quiksilv3r on 3/5/2007 5:18:15 AM , Rating: 3
Let's boycott movies.


RE: It's SLIGHTLY possible...
By Merry on 3/5/2007 6:11:02 AM , Rating: 3
I think its a common sense thing more than anything. It should be fairly obvious you cant get away with driving like you do in a game on the road, and to be quite honest if somebody does they deserve whatever they get (hopefully avoiding any innocent parties).

I find that karting is a good place to go and drive like a loony if you that way inclined. Theres nothing like snap over steer at around 50mph, about an inch off the floor, to get that adrenaline going, with the added bonus that you're not going to get you licence taken off you and/or kill/injure yourself.


RE: It's SLIGHTLY possible...
By BladeVenom on 3/5/2007 8:32:41 AM , Rating: 4
It's absolutely true. Every time I watch a James Bond movie, I then end up seducing several beautiful women and capturing an international terrorist.


RE: It's SLIGHTLY possible...
By sprockkets on 3/5/2007 3:59:17 PM , Rating: 2
I sooooo now want to drive a tank in Russia and derail a train with it.....


RE: It's SLIGHTLY possible...
By Lazarus Dark on 3/5/2007 11:37:21 AM , Rating: 2
I saw all three fast and furious movies in the theatre on opening night and can definately say that a large percentage of people coming out of the parking lot (including myself) squeal tires and race at the lights after the movies. However as some have mentioned, playing driving games has in fact increased my awareness, reaction time, and driving abilities in general. While I may drive faster than others (well at least before my license was suspended for too many tickets- no dui or anything, just speeding), I am generally a better driver than anyone I know. I have never been in an accident, not because I drive slow, but because I am better at avoiding other stupid drivers. Most slow drivers are in fact not paying close attention and cause most accidents not alchohol related. A fast driver such as myself puts complete focus on the road and I am therefore a much safer driver than most people who do not speed. Thats just me of course, many speeders are reckless I'm sure, but that is related to their own stupidity, and should not be blamed on movies, videogames or whether or not their mommy hugged them enough.


RE: It's SLIGHTLY possible...
By Nanobaud on 3/5/2007 1:21:37 PM , Rating: 2
If you want to brag about your self-perceived driving abilities, you may want to leave out the part about your license being suspended for infractions.

There's a lot more to safe driving than the lone adolescent criteria of being generally able to direct the momentum of your car at higher-than-legal-speeds. You probably won't have a clue what this means now, but if you make it another 10-15 years, it will hopefully make sense. (By the way, if you ever want to study a highly-exaggerated occurrence of these phenomena, just go somewhere popular for personal watercraft. The drivers that consider themselves the best are invariably the ones with good reactions, but virtually incapable of anticipation.)

Good luck

nBd


By isaacmacdonald on 3/5/2007 7:37:25 PM , Rating: 2
Its tough to have faith in your driving prowess when you seem incapable of driving within the speed limit, even when it's in YOUR best interest to do so. I speed all the time myself, but its asinine to do so if you're constantly getting caught.

As far as safety goes, speed seems fairly reasonable given the proper conditions (eg: clear open highways or other cars moving at the same speed limit). But, if you're driving so fast that the majority of the cars seem slow to you, you're probably endangering yourself and the general public. It's important to remember that some road situations simply can not be physically handled at high rates of speed, regardless of reaction time.

Go to a track and get the speed out of your system.


hehe, funny story.
By KashGarinn on 3/5/2007 6:13:59 AM , Rating: 2
Once I was having a roaring game of need for speed underground (or undergroud 2) and had to quickly go pick up my sister from tennis practice, on the way, without thinking, I crossed a red light like it was the most natural thing to do, at high-speed. 2 seconds after doing it, I was completely shocked that I had done it (no accident or anything like that, but I was shaking like a leaf). I noticed the red light, but it just didn't matter somehow.

Only time I've ever crossed a redlight. I was alot more careful around driving after playing NfS after that happened.

K.




RE: hehe, funny story.
By theapparition on 3/5/2007 8:05:35 AM , Rating: 3
I know exactly what you mean.

Once, after playing half-life, I killed everyone I work with, without thinking. Seemed like second nature to take out the machine gun and mow 'em down.

On a serious note, admittedly, I usually drive over the speed limit, where warranted (not on side streets or through neighborhoods). I'll skip my rant on speed limits and the revenue that it generates.........however, I've never played a single racing game. Not my cup of tea.

Besides, it was much more fun to kill all my employee's.
/sarcasm<--for those who don't get it


RE: hehe, funny story.
By johnsonx on 3/5/2007 1:12:45 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
/sarcasm<--for those who don't get it


See that coldpower?


RE: hehe, funny story.
By Hoser McMoose on 3/5/2007 1:29:41 PM , Rating: 2
I'll totally agree with this one. I rather enjoy the odd racing game and I know that if I go driving right after playing such a game for a couple hours I have an inclination to continue driving like I was in the game. I have not run a red light, though I can see where it could happen.

That being said, I totally don't blame the game for it. I'm a grown adult and I *KNOW* full well that when I'm sitting in my car it is NOT a game! If I'm not able to differentiate between playing a racing game and driving a real car then it's my own damn fault, NOT that of the racing game!

Also it's not just games, watching a movie with crazy car chases gets the same sort of reaction, but again it just requires me to step back and think for half a second to remember that I live in the real world, NOT on a movie set!

Trying to blame video games, music or movies for some people not being able to control their emotions is as stupid as trying to blame breweries for drunk drivers.


Don't blame the video game
By FITCamaro on 3/5/2007 9:26:58 AM , Rating: 1
Blame the idiot behind the wheel. If you think because you were able to take a 90 degree corner at 120mph in Need for Speed: Carbon, you can do it in real life in your little shitty Honda Civic with its gay fart pipe muffler, 20" rims, shopping cart spoiler, and retarded looking body kit, you deserve the impending accident.

The only racing game I play is the Gran Turismo series since its actually somewhat realistic. You have to actually use the brakes in that game unlike many arcade racers.




RE: Don't blame the video game
By Hare on 3/5/2007 10:54:25 AM , Rating: 2
quote:
The only racing game I play is the Gran Turismo series since its actually somewhat realistic. You have to actually use the brakes in that game unlike many arcade racers.

"Somewhat" indeed... If you want realism you might want to check out Richard Burns Rally. Amazing game. Requires a wheel to be playable. Force feedback is very great for actually feeling the road surface and the car gripping. Without force feedback it's quite hard to keep the car on the road.


RE: Don't blame the video game
By Spoelie on 3/6/2007 5:49:53 AM , Rating: 2
I've always been told that Live For Speed (on the PC) is the most realistic racing game. However, I haven't played richard burns so I can't really compare.

There's an extensive demo to try out:
http://www.liveforspeed.net/
Don't try playing online with a keyboard/mouse setup, you'll be left behind after the first corner :)


RE: Don't blame the video game
By Hare on 3/6/2007 8:09:03 AM , Rating: 2
I really like live for speed but I don't think it's actually as close to the real thing as Richard Burns. Both are very realistic and it's difficult to compare rally and racing (on a track).

Anyway, both are excellent games :)


I wonder...
By DeepBlue1975 on 3/5/2007 7:46:44 AM , Rating: 2
I don't believe so much on these studies.
Rather, I think what these investigations shows are symptoms, not causes, and that the ultimate cause is buried somewhere inside each individual.
For example, why not asking about the profile of those driver who like to play racing games?

I like driving fast, and I don't need any racing game to pursue my "speeding ambitions" as soon as I detect a "least possibly dangerous context", not at all.
But hey, as I like driving and to do it fast, I guess that's a reason for me to like racing games.
Could racing games be a bit of an incentive to me? Absolutely yes.
But is it also an incentive for those people who don't care for the thrill of hard accelerations and a reduced-by-speed field of view?

My point is, if these people behind these studies have questioned themselves about the way they evaluate these facts that statistical data shows.
A set of date can reflect a tendency or a link between different factors, the problem is to correctly interpret the result of a statistical report and, of course, to start by making a good enough statistical analysis first.

There are so many things that can act as a trigger in someone, but that person has to have the ammunition to be triggered right inside his head. It if it's not there, then there's no possible trigger to start the gunfire.




RE: I wonder...
By walk2k on 3/5/2007 1:51:24 PM , Rating: 2
These studies are completely useless from a scientific point of view. They simply prove what they set out to prove, which is usually just something that will make a nice headline.

"PORN MOVIES LEAD TO REAL-LIFE FUCKING!" ... Oh gosh really?

As for driving fast, keep it on the track.
If you want to wad your car up into a ball, at least do it where you won't hurt others.


so
By meepstone on 3/5/2007 5:27:58 AM , Rating: 2
Glad this study is useful. This study is really a waste of money. If you can prove this somehow, it will not resolve anything. There will always be racing games in the world and nothing is going to stop that.




it saves gas;)
By lucyfek on 3/5/2007 10:40:56 AM , Rating: 2
that's for sure




I was going to
By senbassador on 3/5/2007 2:22:09 PM , Rating: 2
I was just about to point out that this ridiculous study confuses correlation with causation but I see that half the posters here beat me to it. Wow, what a shocker that people who play racing games tend to be the ones driving fast in real life. Lets see here, the target demographic for racing video games is 15-24 year old males; not that women or men out of this age bracket don't play them. That also is the group that drives faster than the general population. Then EVEN if you control for that (which I take it that the study didn't bother to do so), people who speed in real life probably like driving just for the sake of it moreso than people who don't, thus it would explain why they prefer to play racing games.

Stupid psychologists. Ironically, they're also the ones who are the most proactive in explaining to college freshmen that correlation doesn't equate correlation. Perhaps they should practice what they preach.

Or. Maybe its projection ;-)




lol well...
By juggalo0707 on 3/5/2007 3:45:17 PM , Rating: 2
Depends, Simulation Racing Vs Arcade RacingI finally completed the Grand Prix area of "Ridge Racer 7". And I have actually drived much more cautous and aware of my surrondings before I even started playing it. What I'm saying is that games like NFS Series can influence Risk Taking, but Simulation games like Gran Turismo and Ridge Racer 7 for the PS3 can really help you in life.




I have no problem believing this.
By rcc on 3/5/2007 4:57:10 PM , Rating: 2
Despite the fact that I'm sure their methodology was hosed.

Drivers under 24 driving faster after racing games, yeah.

Drivers under 24 driving faster after sports events, well duh.

Drivers under 24 driving faster after watching Dukes of Hazzard reruns, yeeeeeeee hawww

Drivers under 24 driving faster after shooting the bull about everyone's cars.

This is a bit like saying alcoholics are more likely to have booze around.

How do I get some of this grant money?????? The duh factor is staggering.




Too true...
By Trisped on 3/5/2007 9:32:40 PM , Rating: 2
I noticed this when I first purchased my N64 with Episode I racer. After playing for a few hours I was asked to drive my family somewhere. Everything was fine till I got on the free way, then I could feel my racing skills activating as I prepared to merge onto the freeway.

Its not like your brain is that smart. You jump when your friend pops out of the closet and yells "Boo" even though you know they are there. You start salivating over food you see, even though it is fake. You start driving like its a game because your brain is use to acting a certain way when you "driving fast" which is when it sees colors move in certain patterns that indicate speed and it realizes you are in control.

What this opens up is the me too thought, if driving games make your driving more reckless then violent games would make you more prone to violence. The key here is that you have to already participate in violent acts in order to trick your brain into game mode. All in all an interesting study. I wonder where this will lead...




Crazy
By timmiser on 3/6/2007 4:02:52 AM , Rating: 2
It's crazy to think that a video game would have anything to do with what we do in real life.

Oops, gotta go, I just saw a new pinata roll into my garden. Viva!!!




Let's be honest here...
By cornfedone on 3/5/07, Rating: -1
"Mac OS X is like living in a farmhouse in the country with no locks, and Windows is living in a house with bars on the windows in the bad part of town." -- Charlie Miller

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