Gamers dominate non-gamers in driving simulation tests

Research results have revealed that video games are more than just entertainment and actually help improve driving skills. Researchers at Anglia Ruskin University in the UK conducted a comprehensive review of 13 studies that analyzed the relationship between games and driving performance, and found that game players performed better on driving-related tasks.

In particular, users who enjoy action games such as Call of Duty (CoD) and Battlefield or fast-paced genres such as racing games stood out in skills essential to driving, such as maintaining lane, detecting danger, and maintaining concentration in stressful situations. Gamers showed a clear advantage over the non-gamer group throughout the simulated driving test.

Check short-term effects with just 8 to 10 hours of game play

Research shows that not only experienced players who have been playing the game for a long time benefit. Some studies have shown short-term performance improvements in simulators and road tests just by playing driving or action-based games for about 8 to 10 hours.

The reason for this phenomenon lies in the way games train the brain. Fast-paced games like Call of Duty or Battlefield require quick reactions, visual scanning, and multitasking, strengthening the attention and decision-making systems used while driving. The researchers explained this with the concept of ‘learning to learn’. This means that technology developed in one environment can be transferred to another environment.

It is not directly related to safe driving.

However, the researchers emphasized that these results do not mean that gamers automatically become safer drivers. This is because excellent performance in a simulation environment does not directly lead to safe driving on real roads. Nevertheless, given that games can contribute to improving cognitive ability and reaction speed, there is a possibility that incorporating game elements into driver education programs will be discussed in the future.