Could video games improve driving skills?

Playing video games may be the answer for older drivers who want to brush up on their driving skills.

ABC News recently reported that Allstate Insurance has launched an experiment involving 100,000 customers in Pennsylvania. After playing the prescribed video games, their accident rates will be compared with drivers who are not playing the games to see if their reflexes and peripheral vision are improved.

Allstate's John Kane said persons 50 to 75 could "benefit from the brain exercises, to improve their driving skills, improve their attention, and improve their visual skills."

If the results are promising, Allstate might expand the program to other states or even consider lower premiums for frequent players.

The specially designed software tests the vision and skills required for driving. One participant in the pilot project said: "The software pointed out very quickly that my vision in the lower left quadrant isn't as strong as in the upper right quadrant."

Dr. Gary Small, director of the UCLA Center on Aging, has done research that supports the idea that computer usage can keep the mind agile.

In a recent study, Small compared the brain scans of patients reading books with those of patients searching the Web and found that there was a huge increase in the activity in the front part of the brain -- the area of the brain that's involved in complex reasoning and decision making -- during the patients' virtual activities.

Get a demonstration of how the software works by going to ABC News.

 

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ABC News - driving skills

As well recently reported that Midwest Insurance has launched new experiment involving 10,000 customers in USA

I don't doubt this is true,

I don't doubt this is true, video games can stimulate a driver into driving better but I suppose those video games are special designed for this. I played few video games in my time, racing games are my favorite. Despite my gaming experience I never asked myself this question, I probably need to try more challenges to get convinced.

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