Gamers Make Better Drivers, Claims Survey

A new study suggests that people who play racing video games on their consoles or PCs might be better drivers in the real world as well.

The survey of 1000 people conducted by Hyundai in the U.K. asked drivers who play video games if racing in the virtual world improved their real-world driving. Almost half (48 percent) said they believed they are more skilled than drivers who aren’t gamers, with only 13 percent disagreeing.

Digging deeper, some 52 percent said they had improved reaction times, with 42 percent claiming a heightened awareness, and 39 percent saying they had better hazard perception.

Although it’s hardly the most scientific study, there’s some evidence for the claims, with 52 percent of respondents saying they passed their driving tests on the first attempt, and 50 percent believing that gaming played a significant part in that.

Some 65 percent of the gaming drivers reckoned racing games provided a realistic experience, with 63 percent saying that steering feel matched real life, 49 percent saying that control and cornering were comparable, and 47 percent believing that gear shifting in games was close to reality.

One area where gamers felt let down, however, was with the soundtrack to their hobby. Just 26 percent said the sound in games matched real life, even though 78 percent reckon it is one of the most important aspects of the gaming experience.

Hyundai says it has taken this message to heart, which is why the N Active Sound system featured in the Ioniq 5 N is so important. The high-performance EV’s audio was actually originally designed for gamers and featured in the Vision Gran Turismo concept car that can only be driven on a Playstation.

Increasingly e-sports are becoming the gateway to real racing from grass roots right up to F1, so there is clearly a skills crossover, but does the same truly apply on the road?