Children at Vail Christian High School near Eagle in Colorado are currently being taught how to drive safely, and how not to use a cellphone while getting from A to B. Of course, because most people can’t be taught anything properly, the school is using quite a unique method of getting the message across — they’re making kids play Mario Kart Wii.
The school’s “Distracted and Drowsy Driving Project” charges students with the task of winning a game of Mario Kart while attempting to use a cellphone. The project aims to show how difficult it is to drive effectively while texting or conversing, and apparently the scheme is yielding results.
“I ran into a lot of things and it was very stressful,” says 13-year-old Alli O-Brian. “… I don’t think I’ll text.”
Hopefully the teachers did point out that you can’t really throw turtle shells at other people’s cars in real life.
Personally, I think it would be more effective to sit them behind the wheel of a real car, force them onto a busy freeway and tell them to get to Walmart and back without dying. Not only will they learn how to drive properly, they’ll probably be too traumatized to get into another car for the rest of their lives, should they survive. Not driving at all is the safest way to handle a car.
[Via Gamezine]
Published: May 18, 2009 05:40 pm