When I lived in New York, a rather twisted pleasure of mine was to drive in Manhattan during rush hour—at least when the gridlock was fairly broken up. Even 15 years ago, the challenge felt akin to living inside a video game: don’t crash, don’t hit innocent (or guilty) pedestrians, beat the taxi before he aces you out at the light, win points by using shortcuts (points = extra time in the analog world).
Maybe that reveals too much about me. But it still leads into my point: A new British study found that people who play driving video games such as Gran Turismo and Need for Speed are 44% more likely than their non-gaming brethren to have auto accidents when behind a real steering wheel.
Why? Some experts say that hurtling around digital corners and feeling superhuman onscreen mean people feel more bravado and capability when they’re driving their real-life Jettas, Corollas and Gremlins. Gamers are also significantly more likely to speed, run red lights and suffer road rage.
The irony here? Despite the fact such drivers file more insurance claims, they still believe they are safer than most other people on the road.
They must have forgotten how deeply—and subtly—entertainment affects us.
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