DRIVERS who play racing video games reckon it’s made them better behind the wheel in real life – and even pass their test earlier.
A poll of 1,000 motorists, who also play driving simulations, found 48% consider themselves better drivers than non-gamers.
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Half reported improved reaction time and general safety, and 50% reckon it helped them pass their test more quickly than if they hadn’t gamed.
While overall awareness of the road and ability to see potential hazards are also apparently improved by playing racing games.
Three-quarters also say they experience more excitement from virtual racing than from real-life driving.
A spokesperson for Hyundai, which commissioned the study to highlight the audio technology in its new EV, the IONIQ 5 N, said: “It’s evident that both fun and functionality need to be at the forefront of design.
“As many as one-third of players acknowledge that racing games have influenced their choice of car model.”
The study went on to find nearly two-thirds of respondents view racing video games as similar to real-life driving.
They found similarities in aspects like steering, control and cornering and gear shifts.
But just a quarter think the sound in racing games matches real-life driving.
Yet sound remains a critical element for over three-quarters of gamers, and 30% consider it the single most important aspect of the driving experience.
