Although this latest study by Continental Tyres shows that devoted gamers are more likely to perform unsafe driving maneuvers, there are a few context clues that show that this behavior is rather isolated. First, the study shows that gamers who prefer titles such as, “Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit,” often take things too far when they are on the road, these gamers also spend many hours a day simulating high risk driving moves. The vast majority of gamers play games that range from first person shooters to RPGs and puzzle games, therefore the biggest fans of racing games are much more likely to be fans of racing in general.
In addition to practicing unsafe driving, more extreme gamers are also believed to increase their risk of being involved in roadway accidents. What was not released in the study was whether or not these drivers were new and inexperienced or had racked up numerous driving infractions before they started to play racing games.
It is completely possible that some gamers are unable to separate real life driving situations from fantasy, but the demographics of gamers in general put them into a higher risk category. Most gamers are male, ranging from the ages of 14 to 50. Auto insurers few single males under the age of 30 as one of the highest insurance risks across the board. Since they are already viewed as a liability, it is likely that the study just happened to pick up on a phenomenal that was already well apparent.
