Racing games promote risky driving behavior
Ars Technica reports today that a new study performed by Peter Fischer and colleagues at Ludwig-Maximilians University and the Allianz Center for Technology in Germany correlates video game driving with risky real-world driving. Ars does a great job in disseminating the study, talking about how the games played focused on risky driving on public roads, and not racers such as Gran Tourismo. Studies like these tend to be firmly gripped by the mainstream media, helping them on their crazed quest to demonize games. Look at the source, contemplate, and then formulate your opinion!
Speaking on my own behalf, I can say that immediately after playing racing games if I get into a car I tend to be slightly more risky than usual. Then I come to my senses and realize I am not actually playing a video game, and I return to my normal society-functioning self. Heck, sometimes after playing Tony Hawk or even Katamari I feel like driving up a rail, or rolling other cars into my ball of doom.
What do you guys think? Do driving games innately breed riskier drivers?
What say you?!