Legal Niches

Mario Kart Teaches Kids Dangers of Texting While Driving

By gamepolitics

Surely we can all agree that texting while behind the wheel is a very bad idea. But how do you drive such a fact through the thick skull of your average teenager?

Why, with video games of course!

As part of a nationwide contest put on by the National Organization for Youth Safety, Colorado's Vail Christian High School has introduced the 'distracted and drowsy driving project.'  The initiative aims to show kids first-hand how dangerous distracted driving is by having students read and send texts while playing Mario Kart Wii.  And yes, they're using the Wii Wheel to control their karts.

So, is the program effective?  Said 13-year-old Alli O'Brian:

I ran into a lot of things and it was very stressful.  I don't think I'll text [while driving].

Vail Christian High School is one of twenty schools from around the country participating in the contest.  The school with the best safety program will receive a $10,000 award.

Hit up 9news.com for video coverage of the program.

-Reporting from San Diego, GamePolitics correspondent Andrew Eisen…

Full post as published by GamePolitics.com on May 19, 2009 (boomark / email).