Video Racing Games May Spur Risky Driving

kiwimate writes "A study concludes that people who play car racing games may be more likely to take risks and drive aggressively when driving in real life. According to the article, "The study appeared in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied, published by the American Psychological Association"." Just because after I play Grand Theft Auto I want to ram other cars does not mean I'm a worse driver. Honest.

Comments

My sorta story

[MrShaggy]

After playing GTA; Vice City, I saw a parking lot full of police cars, and I thought to myself, that would be worth it.

I never did.

Now I broke the ice, everyone else can post there coming-out story.

Re:My sorta story

[Rob T Firefly]

Well, there was that time I patronized a hooker, then immediately afterward bludgeoned her to death, and plucked the money I paid her from where it was floating in the air several inches above her slowly vanishing corpse... wait, that was years before GTA came out. Never mind.

Re:My sorta story

[russ1337]

Look, this is ridiculous.

If people thought playing computer games would affect your actions in real life, then all those hours of PacMan would have had us running around in darkened rooms listening to repetitive music munching on pills.

Oh wait....

Re:My sorta story

[Digital Vomit]

It's pretty lame that they're trying to blame GTA for stuff like that. I was beating up hookers and taking their money *way* before GTA came out.

Re:My sorta story

[cayenne8]

"If people thought playing computer games would affect your actions in real life, then all those hours of PacMan would have had us running around in darkened rooms listening to repetitive music munching on pills. "

Heck, in the old days...we had to live with dropping anvils onto people's heads...or aim them towards the edge of a high cliff with a large ACME rocket on their back while on roller skates.

Yup...we had it tough before PacMan had its nefarious influence on us. Looney Tunes was bad enough.....

Dunno about driving, but after playing Duke Nukem

[dlleigh]

... I kept peering around corners wanting to shoot fire extinguishers.

Not that I ever actually did it.

Of course, if I could've gotten my hands on that shrink ray gun thing...

This study is correct

[rbarreira]

I can attest that the study is correct in its results.

My grandmother never played GTA, and she only drives in the city, always in 1st or 2nd gear at most. She never had any serious accident.

Re:Who plays racing games? Teenage boys?

[TerranFury]

>Next study! People who date teenage girls are risky drivers!

"Damn! There go my insurance rates!" -- Moe, age 40.

Re:Who plays racing games? Teenage boys?

[Raistlin77]

Actually, the riskiest group is NASCAR drivers.

Re:This is unusual, but plausible

[Anonymous Coward]

the type (actually, speed) of music you're listening to

I listen to NPR and drive 10 mph below the speed limit in the left lane. With my left blinker on. I'm not bothered by the honking from other drivers because Robert Siegel has a very soothing voice.

Re:Who plays racing games? Teenage boys?

[voice_of_all_reason]

I was judged "not at fault" in the accident, the body armor was unlocked at my hideout for completing a Unique Stunt

Fixed.

Re:Ridge Racer

[HTH NE1]

Apparently this study was spurned from interviews in Portland, Oregon. I don't think they've mastered the art of drifting through corners.

I think you meant "spawned" instead of "spurned".

I'm cognizant of how I feel after playing hours of Burnout 3, but I haven't felt compelled to cause major pileups, run people off the road, or drift around corners. I've never found myself racing under an Interstate overpass thinking, "Checkpoint!"

However, I have felt the urge to jockey for the most favored position at the next red light after playing hours of Tetris. But then that's just common sense: no one wants to get stuck in the lane behind a slowly accelerating long piece... er, I mean truck.

Re:I for one...

[gEvil (beta)]

But it's a really laid back sort of impatience...

Re:Is it like herbalism in WoW?

[markbt73]

Of course, I am reefering to when I see a flower on the side of the road I want to pick it, and add it to my inventory.

Your Freudian slip is showing.

Hey I can totally relate!

[Sneakernets]

Last time I had one of these urges, the Police found me crashed into a tree with a hand of bananas, an assortment of turtles in the trunk, and a bag of hallucinogenic drugs.

The mechanics also said that it's the first time they've ever seen mushrooms stuck in a gas tank.

And what about Katamari Damacy ?

[DrYak]

In other news, Katamari Damacy has proven to cause Diogenes syndrome (Compulsory Hoarding) in players.

Space Invaders players more likely to become Fighter Jet pilots !

PacMan players more likely to develop eating disorders !

Politicians to start paying to develop games where the player has to vote for them !

Click on my website to download my new creation : a game called "Give me all your money, and pay me hookers"

Re:Makes me careful

[Vexorian]

Yeah seriously, I hate to rush since my car might eventually flip , show fire in the front and then explode... I am very, very cautious when driving...