If you’re a regular driver and you want to improve, there are a few ways you can do this. You could take a defensive driving course, practice, and stay in control of your emotions to name just a few. However, gaming can actually have great benefits that could impact your driving skills in a positive way. Of course, this doesn’t mean you should game while you drive. That would be pretty irresponsible, no? However, spending around 3 times a week gaming for 20 minutes could help you to unlock some unbelievable benefits that can translate directly to your driving skill on the road.
Let’s take a look at 10 benefits that gaming can have for drivers!
- Improve Your Reaction Times
Gaming can improve your reaction times, and reaction times are pretty crucial on the road! Reacting quickly in gaming is crucial, whether you’re defeating a big boss or trying to do something else. You need to think fast and make decisions at superhuman speed. As gaming forces you to use this process regularly, you can find that you are able to make better, faster decisions as you drive, too.
- Achieve Better Focus and Concentration
When gaming, you need to stay hyper-focused on the game at hand. Many games are very immersive and absorbing, and this in turn can improve your focus and concentration when you’re not gaming. You can find that when you drive you’re less likely to get distracted by things, and even when you’re doing other things, like working!
- Enhance Problem Solving Skills and Decision Making
Sometimes as you drive, you’ll need to make a decision. Should you follow the sat nav route, or go a different way? Problem solving skills can be vital to driving, as our route isn’t always as smooth as we would like it to be. Gaming often gives us a set of choices to move forward, encouraging us to use those problem solving skills and decision making skills. Getting better at solving problems can only be a good thing while we’re behind the wheel.
- Learn A Thing Or Two About Cars
If you’re actually spending time playing driving games, you might find that you learn a thing or two about cars. Many games are super realistic, and will include real life car models. In this sense, you can learn about the pros and cons of various brands and models. Even if you don’t, you’ll pick up some lingo that can be helpful.
- Improve Your Hand-Eye Coordination
Hand-eye coordination is one of the most important things you can have when driving. You need to keep your eyes on the road and control the gears in a manual car, as well as the pedals, without thinking about it. As gaming forces you to do many things at once, without taking your eyes off the screen, it can be a great way to improve this skill.
- Feel Less Stressed
Gaming can be a great stress reliever. It can help you to get away from the stresses of reality for a bit and have fun. This is a good thing to do before you get on the road, as road rage and irritability can be the cause of many bad decisions and accidents. Being as relaxed as possible before you get behind the wheel can only be a good thing.
- Enhances memory
Playing a video game can actually enhance your memory. Think about it: before you begin, you’re given a set of instructions that you must remember if you’re going to progress through the game. You also need to remember what keys to press for certain moves. In turn, this can enhance your memory, which can be useful if you’re trying to remember a route or directions.
- Enhances multitasking skills
Now, you shouldn’t really multitask while you drive. Eating, drinking, and doing things like applying makeup while behind the wheel can be extremely dangerous. However, gaming can help you to get better at multitasking, as you have so many things to pay attention to. You need to look at your time left, energy levels, and other things, all while you work the keys, depending on the requirement of the game. Driving is like multitasking in itself, so this can be hugely beneficial.
- Keep Your Brain Young and In Shape
Did you know that video games can slow down ageing? Playing semi regularly can mean keeping your brain young and healthy, and having the attitude of somebody who is much younger (not just accepting the fact that you’re getting older and rejecting everything that you once enjoyed). You know the older generation you see driving 25 miles in a 40? This won’t be you. Focusing on training your brain and keeping it healthy will help your driving skills both now and in the future.
- Improve Your Eyesight
On top of everything else that we have listed here, gaming can actually help to improve your eyesight! Daphne Bavelier conducted a study that discovered that playing action games improves an ability called contrast sensitivity function. This ability helps us discern between changes in shades of gray against a colored backdrop, which is very beneficial while driving at night. It doesn’t matter how old you are or whether you are experiencing any issues with your vision right now, improving/maintaining your eyesight will be a good thing. You’ll be able to see clearly while you’re on the road, pre-empting decisions the drivers around you are making and staying safe.
There are so many more benefits of gaming, whether you’re a driver or not. The above benefits may also translate to other things, whether you want to get better at focusing on your work, or you’d like to start playing a sport that requires solid hand-eye coordination. Gaming can help, providing you’re playing in a healthy way. Even kids can benefit from playing games, as they can get just as stressed out as the rest of us!
What games will you play? Leave a comment!
