Gamers more likely to crash

COMPUTER geeks who play driving games are more likely to crash on our roads, according to a new study.

It found that motorists who play games such as Need for Speed and Gran Turismo are also 44 per cent more likely to take risks on the roads such as running a red light and are less successful at carrying out everyday manoeuvres.

Fatality Free Friday founder Russell White agreed that driving games gave motorists more "bravado".

However, the road safety expert said driving games should not be confused with computer simulators which are driver education tools that teach motorists to be aware of the dangers on the roads.

Queensland Transport is considering allowing learners to include simulator hours in their logbook if Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety Queensland (CARRS-Q) research this year shows it's effective. White pointed out that airline pilots have to use simulators to retain their licence.

The British study found computer gamers more likely to speed, suffer from road rage, be stopped by police, claim on their insurance. They are also considered "over-confident" by non-gamers and a potential risk because they might repeat their virtual driving approach in the real world.

Continental Tyres spokesman Tim Bailey says computer games require good concentration levels and improved reaction times.

"However, they can take more risks than non-gaming drivers, possible due to the lack of real consequence in games," he said. "They believe that any problem can be solved by resetting their game."

Gamers also appear to be worse parkers, having crashed into more stationary objects and are twice as likely to scare others with their antics on the road.

It also emerged that the longer they spend on games like Grand Theft Auto and Formula 1 each week, the worse they are behind the wheel with the research revealing that those who play for more than eight hours a week have been in three times as many accidents as someone who plays for less an hour.

However, non-gamers take an average of one more attempt at passing their driver's test and have caused twice as many prangs to their vehicle in the last year.

FAST FACTS	Gamers	Non-gamers
Stopped by police	22%	13%
Who use mobile when driving	19%	12%
Ever made a claim for an accident	30%	15%
Run a red light in last 12 months	31%	14%
Driven wrong way down 1-way street	13%	10%
Hit stationary object when parking	22%	13%
Accidently clipped a car but kept quiet	19%	11%
Take risks (accelerate too quickly, overtake)	44%	21%
Suffer road rage	45%	22%
Speed	25%	13%
Scare others with their driving	26%	11%
Attempts before passing test	2	3
Crashes in past 12 months	1	2