Does driving for real make you better at racing games?

And if so does it help to drive faster in real life? What do you think?

I think it helps, especially with simulation racers! It helps you understand certain concepts better! Like two wheel drive vs four wheel drive. And camber on the road, things like that! Im not saying drivers are better than non drivers but i think it gives them an edge!

I think it does. That only works one way though. Driving for real gives you an edge in computer games, because you're familiar with everything, and it's the same basic concepts. The other way around, it puts you at a disadvantage. Because if you take someone who's only played computer racing simulation and stick them behind the wheel of a car, they're already conditioned to go fast. And real life roads and cars are a lot less forgiving. Camber on the road might help, but there's no way the average car can take a real curve at 100 mph. Throwing the car into oversteer or understeer is also a completely different experience. It's almost too simple to recover from a slide in computer games. Add to that an unexperienced real-life driver, and the combination could prove fatal.
That said, I think the fatality/accident rate as i just described above is close to zero. Put bluntly, in theory it'd be a concern, but in reality there aren't that many idiots around who are stupid enough to drive a car the way they race in a game.

Actually, racing games (and some training of course...) made me drive much better than people who never had this kind of experience, mostly because of the sense of space, objects speed and motion, and basic car mechanics.

Since I don't play much using steering wheels, probably driving in real life makes little difference in the virtual experience. Also, the realism and physics (as also the gameplay) vary up so much from game to game that it's hard to bring the experiences from one thing to another.

And well, I usually drive a bit faster than normal, but I don't think it's related to how much racing games I play. It's more about my social circle (most of my friends drive as fast or even faster than me) and what I'm used to.
If someone who likes to drive slowly takes me for a ride, I might get a bit irritated...

Well, that's mostly it. =)

Yes, I agree about the other way round! Playing games doesn't make you a better real life driver. Although it could have an effect on how fast you drive. Although no more so than the music your listening to or its volume!

Although one thing I noticed is that I started enjoying racing games much more after I started driving! Although that may just be because the games have gotten so much better recently!

Having said this the other day whilst driving the rear end slid as it was very wet when I went around a corner. Quite a few people I know wouldnt have known what to do in the situation however it may sound stupid but from playing games on the playstation with a steering wheel it helped me know how to get out of the skid. All thanks goes to Gran Turismo and Need For Speed.

Ye, games can help! We forgot to mention learning to countersteer!

But I think Gran Turismo helped you out a lot more than need for speed!

Yes, when i was talking about gaming not helping in real life, i was mostly referring to arcade games such as need for speed. Gran Turismo, Colin McRae Rally and the like aren't so popular or widely distributed here, whereas everyone plays need for speed, and THAT is hardly realistic. ---It's still my favorite racing game.

Really? Over here its the simulators that are more popular! Well, at least amongst the people I know!

But take nothing away from the arcade racers! They are also great! And I guess more 'FUN' to play!

Everyone knows the sims are the one's that get irritating! (*Looks at broken controllers*)

LOL

I don't know real life driving nor I am interested in racing games (I never win those ).But I have read in Reader's Digest that playing computer games will increase your concentration while doing regular tasks like driving.
May be it will also effect the real life driving, like turning changing gears, applying brakes etc

I don't know about improving your actual technique...

But it sure taught me a lot about different types of cars and racing! I have GT3 and GT4 to thank for that.