Personal Injury Law and Teen Drivers—Can Video Games Prevent Accidents in Boise, Idaho?

Video games have been blamed for everything from reckless driving to crime, but can they actually prevent teen driving accidents? A recent University of Rochester study found that action video game players were more likely to make the right decision faster when it came to driving, reading, or finding a friend in a crowd. Emergency situations that arise when driving may require a person to make a critical split-second decision. The University of Rochester found that for video game players, these decisions are better and faster. Teen drivers are often at a disadvantage when it comes to making quick decisions behind the wheel due to lack of experience. Yet, skills acquired while playing video games may be able to help them out and prevent serious accidents.

Car accident prevention is often contingent on whether a person behind the wheel perceives a threat and reacts quickly enough to it. Video game players were found to be better processors of visual and auditory information and could gather more information in a faster period than non-game players.

So, should car accident lawyers in Boise and Nampa, Idaho advise parents to buy their kids the latest video game console for Christmas? Let’s not act too fast.

Video games that depict reckless driving may also influence teens to make poor decisions behind the wheel, or may trivialize serious dangerous maneuvers that teens may replicate while driving. A study found that kids who played Grand Theft Auto were more likely to exhibit reckless driving habits. While the study doesn’t show a direct cause and effect link between the video game and reckless driving behavior, the researchers found a strong correlation between game players and reckless driving decisions.

Racing games were also found to have a negative impact on teen driving. Teen drivers were more likely to self-report engaging in speeding, tailgating, and weaving behaviors.

Car accidents are the leading cause of death for American teens, so the impact of video game playing should not be taken lightly. Parents need to balance the benefits of video games from the costs. Open discussions about the dangers of reckless driving can go a long way to preventing accidents. Parents who model responsible driving are also more likely to have kids to drive responsibly. Finally, parents should limit the number of passengers teen drivers are allowed to have when the teen is still just learning to drive and has just received a license.

Responsible driving is everyone’s job. Parents have a legal responsibility when their children get behind the wheel. Auto accident lawyers see cases every year where parents are responsible for paying for the injuries and damages their children cause while driving. Parents are often the last line of defense when it comes to ensuring that their teens are safe and responsible drivers.

If you’ve been in a car accident in Nampa or Boise, Idaho, a personal injury lawyer may be able to assist you in receiving the compensation you deserve. The Law Office of Johnson & Lundgreen is a firm committed to promoting responsible and safe driving in Idaho.