Virtual drivers blur racing with reality, study says

Britain's roads are being 'plagued by a generation of game boy racers' who are driving recklessly after playing computer simulation games, new research suggests.

34% of young drivers confess they are more likely to drive faster on roads shortly after indulging in on-screen driving action - and a quarter of young drivers admit they take greater driving risks after a gaming session.

The study, by the UK's largest driving school, BSM, shows nearly a quarter of young drivers even claim they have imagined they're in a driving simulation game while driving. The research also shows that frequent gamers are almost twice as likely as less regular players to lose their sense of reality on the road.

And young men are the worst offenders - the study says they are almost twice as likely as women to blur virtual and on-road driving.

Although driving simulation games appear to negatively affect the habits of newly qualified drivers, the research indicates they can be a positive tool for learners. Indeed, BSM uses driving simulators as part of its comprehensive package of learning tools for young drivers.

Robin Cummins, BSM's road safety consultant, said: "Accredited driving simulators can be a really useful tool in enhancing driving skills such as observation, confidence and reaction times. But it's important that their use goes hand in hand with real on-road experience, and drivers should be careful not to get caught up in a virtual driving world.

"Making an adrenalin-charged move in a game may impact on your score, but doing so on the road can carry far greater consequences."

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