Cleaver

February 01, 2011 at 2:13pm

"Across the board, gamers simply reported taking more risks: speeding, getting stopped by police, scaring passengers, using the phone while driving – you name it.

But that's not the end of the story. See, gamers also managed to pass driver's tests with fewer attempts and... get into fewer fender-benders."

What that says to me is that that study was utter bullcrap. Games essentially make bad improvements to driving habits, which to me is an oxymoron. 

LatiosXT

February 01, 2011 at 9:03am

This holds about as much weight as violent video games causes people to go violent. I'll admit that I do technically speed on the highway, but that's about as much risk as I'll take, as I understand the difference between a video game and real life is your life and the lives of others are now at stake for doing stupid manuvers.

I also did the smart thing and took lessons from a driving tutor.

rseding91

February 01, 2011 at 8:29am

Or, could it be that people who like to take risks also like to game? and those who don't like risks don't game?

 

These type of studies prove nothing and waist everyones time. People keep trying to link gaming to *something* when in most cases it's *something* that leads to gaming.

Just wait for  these ones:
People who like guns and like to shoot guns play shooting games.
People who like cars and like to drive cars play racing/driving games.
Violent people tend to play violent games.

Scootiep

February 01, 2011 at 7:07am

Correction, Games don't TEACH anything about driving. They simply teach hand eye coordination and reflex training. If the people running these "tests" think that people are using a driving game to teach their kids how to drive they're idiots. And if anyone actually is using a driving game to teach their kids how to drive, they're an idiot and insane.

midia

February 01, 2011 at 6:40am

This justifies all those who say that games indeed do influence people and by extension young people.

Of course games influence young people!  Young folks are imitators.  They are programmed to imitate.  Murder, violence, uncivilized behavior as well as games full of good, solid citizenship, mind exercises and games that teach kindness have negative and positive influences, respectively.  It is just like TV. Therefore, parents have a huge obligation to be responsible, and restrict what their kids watch and participate in.  Flood your children with good content at home, and prevent your kids from exposure to the harshness of gore.  They will be better citizens with less stress, who will make better choices for themselves and their kids (your grandkids). **end soapbox**

I remember taking driving class in high school.  They had us sit behind simulators to learn good driving habits - like a huge video game. It worked.

 

Gezzer

February 01, 2011 at 2:55am

The problem with something like this is it leaves out a lot of data that make the results easier to understand.

For example, what were the average ages of the gamers compared to the non gamers?. No were in the linked story did it mention that, just the age range of the test group.

If most of the gamers were younger then the non gamers (a quite possible situation) then the results both pro (better reactions) and con (poor driving habits) might be more a product of age rather then of gamer status.

Truth is you can make a study say whatever you want, it all depends on what you include in the results.

I remember a story about a year or two ago stating that people with poor dental health didn't live as long. Everyone at work was mentioning how it must be due to untreated abscess's or something. Then I suggested one thing not mentioned in the story. The subjects household income. Poor people can't really afford to go to the dentist was my position. So when you think about it, being poor is quite likely the biggest factor in a persons life expectancy, after genetic factors. Making dental health a minor contributor, rather then a major one, to a persons average life expectancy.

Now as for myself a lifetime gamer at 50 years of age? Well I ride a motorbike, so yeah I'm a bit of a thrill seeker. I'm just smart enough not to do anything really stupid, and not to get caught if I do bend a few rules. lol 

bingojubes

January 31, 2011 at 10:37pm

i speed too much, myself, though i do stop at all red lights and california roll through stop signs mostly. while i don't play too many racing games, the thrill of speed is like a bug i can't shake. i think that in my scenario, driving fast keeps me actively looking for hazards and such, because my attention decreases if there's nothing to think about besides "just driving".

last time i decided to go within the recommended postings, i almost got into a wreck, cause i got lazy and started dozing off, so speed is helping me stay aware of my surroundings. Remember: when the light is yellow, you have 4 seconds to get through or stop at the light, so if you plan to get through, better think fast and commit!