"How 'Mario Kart' Enhances Real Driving Skills: The Unexpected Safety Benefits of Gaming"

Photo by Philip Terry Graham, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

"Do racing games make you a better driver?" This unfamiliar claim has suddenly garnered attention. According to a trending news report by BANG Showbiz Japanese, young people who play racing games, including 'Mario Kart,' for more than 10 hours a week were able to drive "more safely" on a professional-grade simulator akin to a real car. Specifically, the results showed that the time spent "outside the lane" in a pre-prepared public road driving simulation was less.Nordot

What improved?—The content of the research

The basis for this claim is a study published in the academic journal Journal of Clinical and Translational Science. It divided 40 young adults in West Virginia into "high gamers" who play for more than 10 hours a week and "light gamers" who do not, and compared their performance on the same public road driving simulator. The main difference was in "lane keeping," where high gamers spent statistically significantly less time outside the lane than light gamers. On the other hand, there was no significant difference in speeding, turn signal operation, violations, or collisions. Although the sample was small and mainly consisted of college students, the authors concluded that the findings were consistent with existing research on the improvement of visuomotor control and lane-keeping accuracy in action/racing games.Cambridge University Press & Assessment

In the BANG Showbiz article, an expert from an online casino information site was quoted as saying, "The right video games can hone skills that form the foundation of safe driving, such as lane keeping, speed control, and instant decision-making." However, it was also noted that they are not a substitute for driving lessons or traffic laws.Nordot

How did social media react?

As the news spread, reactions on X (formerly Twitter) were mixed.

"Was my driving technique cultivated by Mario Kart? ( ◠‿◠ )" said one user, humorously sharing their "realization."X (formerly Twitter)

• "Seriously? lol," expressed another, skeptical voice.X (formerly Twitter)

• "This is such a silly study, lol. It would be even more effective with more realistic racing games," pointed out another opinion emphasizing the importance of simulators and the "realism of games."X (formerly Twitter)

• Posts sharing "It helped improve real driving skills" via SmartNews were also prominent, indicating the spread of the topic.X (formerly Twitter)

Overall, opinions were split between "I can see that" and **"With a game that has rough behavior? Really?"** Many questioned the "type of game (realistic or party-oriented)," "comparison method (impact of years of experience and real driving history)," and "sample size."

Why does lane keeping improve with racing games?

The key seems to be "visuomotor control" and "attention distribution." Past research has shown that regular players of action games have a high ability to quickly connect visual information to movement and a high ability to quickly select important information within their field of view. Lane keeping is a typical "visuomotor control task" that requires gaze movement and subtle steering corrections during cornering, making it reasonable for skills honed in games to transfer.PubMed

Misunderstandings and limitations of "becoming a better safe driver"

Of course, generalizing from this to say "playing games will reduce accidents" is a leap. The main difference this time was only in the time spent "within the lane," and there is no evidence that speed management or compliance behavior automatically improves. Additionally, how much simulator performance reflects safe driving on the road also varies depending on the context. The researchers also noted limitations such as "the sample consists of 40 young adults," "the game genre is not specified," and "it's only a comparison of short initial runs."Cambridge University Press & Assessment

Still, it has meaning—how to "apply" it to reality

• As supplementary material for beginner drivers: Alongside simulator training, short racing game practice can be tasked to develop a sense of "where to look" and "stability in line-taking."

• Visualizing the "embodied knowledge" of eSports: Measuring small controller inputs and gaze movements to apply them as indicators of driving skills.

• Safety education at home: If parents and children focus on "line over speed" during play, it can be an opportunity to positively reevaluate gaming culture.

None of these replace learning driving lessons or traffic laws. The benefits of games are "seeds of potential," requiring proper nurturing design (time, titles, practice methods).

The "current" context: The debate reignited by 'Mario Kart World'

This year, as a launch title for Nintendo Switch 2, **'Mario Kart World' has appeared, featuring the largest races in the series and new features like "free roam," which have become a hot topic. The design that allows enjoyment of movement and photography outside the game enriches the experience of "playing driving" and aligns well with the current research topic. However, the mix of "party-like chaos" and "realistic training" remains entertainment. A balanced perspective is needed to avoid misinterpreting the points.The Verge

Conclusion

Racing games like 'Mario Kart' provide positive suggestions regarding lane keeping, which is the foundation of "safe driving"—but no more, no less. Driving is a task akin to mixed martial arts. Strengthening visuomotor control is just one means, and ultimate safety is supported by understanding road traffic laws, real road experience, situational judgment, and moderate speed management. Games can serve as a good practice platform to supplement these, but they do not endorse a driver's license. While expectations are there, misunderstandings should not be—this distance is healthy.

Main Sources

• News on racing games like 'Mario Kart' and driving skills.Nordot

• Academic research: Video game experience and simulator driving performance (40 young adults, improvement in lane keeping).Cambridge University Press & Assessment

• Related existing research: The relationship between action games and visuomotor control/lane keeping.PubMed

• Background context: The appearance and topic of 'Mario Kart World.'The Verge

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