Experts divided over car video game links to risky driving behaviour

Novice drivers may be more inclined to develop risk-taking behaviour on the roads after growing up playing racing video games –  but not all experts agree.

Experts are divided over the possible links between a generation of drivers who have grown up playing racing video games, and dangerous and risky behaviour on the roads.

Amid record sales of car racing games over the past two decades, researchers have been studying a possible correlation with road deaths of young drivers.

Australian Road Safety Foundation CEO Russell White spoke to Drive and warned younger drivers – real-life driving risks do not equate to virtual simulation accidents.

“I think part of the next generation road user can potentially be desensitized to video games.

“Having said that, some of the realism and simulation can be extremely life-like, but we have to be extremely careful with the dilution of the risks associated with driving. Younger drivers have to be aware it’s not as simple as a reset button,” he said.

Dr Max von Sabler, a clinical psychologist, and Director of MVS Psychology Group told Drive the mixed views in psychology in relation to racing games and their link to risky driving behaviour.

“There is some literature suggesting that there is a positive correlation between playing car video games and risky behaviours, with results indicating that people may be more likely to engage in aggressive driving and unsafe driving habits in real life,” he said.

“There has been other research that found no relationship, noting that people can differentiate between the real world and video games and that exposure to video games may actually increase skills when driving.

“However, correlation is not causation.”

According to a 2020 study –  which discovered a “significant positive correlation between the consumption of risk-glorifying media and the tendency to engage in risk-tolerant behaviours.” – it also found the realistic graphics in next-generation video games create “a perception of driving in the real world and racing cars at high speed with no negative consequence.”

The 2020 study referenced a previous 2015 research –  where students who participated in a timed race video game “tended more towards risky behaviours in road traffic scenarios than participants who had played neutral games,” the research concluded.

While the advancements in technology have made racing games closer to real-life simulation than a game – Russell White told Drive: “Like any tool, it’s how it’s used, I do think the detailing in these modern games are incredible, but it doesn’t give an adequate image of what the results would be [should an accident happen].”

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