High schoolers learn life-saving lesson from Mario Kart Wii

by JC Fletcher { May 19th 2009 at 12:55PM }

How do you keep kids from getting distracted? One school thinks Mario Kart is the answer. In order to teach kids about the dangers of texting while driving, Colorado's Vail Christian High School has introduced the "distracted and drowsy driving program," in which kids play Mario Kart Wii while answering and sending text messages, in order to see how phone use adversely affects driving skill. As a bonus, the program teaches awareness of hazards like banana peels and turtle shells.

The program, which also includes deterrents like a chair that simulates a 5MPH collision and a golf cart that simulates drunk driving, is part of Vail Christian's entry in a National Organization for Youth Safety contest. The school stands to win a $10,000 award if its program wins. Students who successfully demonstrate understanding of how dangerous texting while driving is will also earn college credit in Obvious Studies.

[Via GamePolitics]

Tags: mario-kart-wii, safety, school

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Obie @ May 19th 2009 12:58PM

"I'm-a Wario, I'm-a Gonna Ween!"

*Crash*

"Waaaaaaah!"

Zertoss @ May 19th 2009 1:35PM

The text message that made Wario crash:

"Hi! I'm Daisy!"

Dirty @ May 19th 2009 1:00PM

"golf cart that simulates drunk driving" I would like to see video of this.

SecretAgentHam @ May 19th 2009 1:21PM

its not as interesting as you would think.

they set up a course for you to follow made up of orange cones. they then make you wear these strange goggles that are supposed to simulate your vision imparement while drunk (they are totally off, i can see better than that) and make you drive. i almost ran over our school principal, got a cone stuck in the cart, scared the police officer riding with me, and had all my fellow students cheering me on. then i put the goggles on and drove better. strange how that day panned out.

CtrlBurn @ May 19th 2009 1:29PM

Wouldn't it make more sense to just get kids drunk and have them drive in a closed course? I just can't understand why the education system is so scared of hands-on experience.

Josh @ May 19th 2009 1:48PM

I actually did extremely well with that back in high school.

But I think I had the 'less drunk' goggles...

Lekko @ May 19th 2009 1:51PM

.......because giving alcohol to underage high school kids to simulate drunk driving is illegal?

Frostybolts @ May 19th 2009 2:21PM

I don't think it's legal to operate a vehicle while intoxicated even in a closed course alongside a sober instructor equipped with a brake/steering wheel

MowDownJoe @ May 19th 2009 8:53PM

@CtrlBurn: Because they probably don't have the budget to deal with any wrecks that might ensue?

MrSpaceCowboy @ May 19th 2009 1:01PM

Kids, if you can time your throttle right, you can get a speed boost at traffic lights.

Also, teaching kids how to powerslide is pretty badass.

BlackDS @ May 19th 2009 1:03PM

If only I could use the blue shell to clear away traffic. LOL.

The roadways would be covered w/ blood if everyone drove like it was Mario Kart. Can you imagine, driving your car into the side of another car to drive him off the road? Or throwing ink on their windshield to blind them? And how about the green, red & blue shells?

LOL

butaneko @ May 19th 2009 2:09PM

Can someone invent a machine to automatically down vote people who LOL at their own posts?

Mr Khan @ May 19th 2009 4:30PM

@ Butaneko

You speak of summoning Justin Glow. Powerful dark magic is needed to awaken him

mahouneko @ May 19th 2009 1:03PM

Wait, college credit in "obvious studies"? =_=

Other than that, it IS an interesting use of an existing system to teach driving safety. Would you happen to know how they intend to explain the random power-up crystals/cubes?

Dirty @ May 19th 2009 1:07PM

Bonus points for fat people

InFaMoUs1- @ May 19th 2009 1:04PM

try playing GT 5: Prologue with a PlayStation 3 Logitech Driving Force GT Racing Wheel while texting, then these kids will learn!

deaftly @ May 19th 2009 1:10PM

The school would rather use a full game and not a demo I guess.

Storm Eagle @ May 19th 2009 1:13PM

+1 KoolAid Man

InFaMoUs1- @ May 19th 2009 1:14PM

-_-' GT 5 Prologue is a Full Game

InFaMoUs1- @ May 19th 2009 1:15PM

yes +1 for your ignorance

CTC XBL-supapaypamawio PSN-ctclaw @ May 19th 2009 1:30PM

They should actually try using a real life scenario...like driving straight on a freeway for 50 miles to get to work. Being stuck in traffic. Then the kids will realize that it really doesn't effect your driving to much.

Moptimus Slime (PhilosoRaptor is the new Keyboard Cat) @ May 19th 2009 4:34PM

So theirs no point in buying Regular Ol' GT5?

Thanks InFaMoUs, Im sure you just saved a lot of people $60

WREturns @ May 19th 2009 1:05PM

This is awesome! Does this class also teach drifting for speed boosts?

Go1denchi1d @ May 19th 2009 1:06PM

That's nice we're teaching them about how great life lessons but how about littering!? Sure its bad to text and be drowsy while driving but you're also teaching them to drop banana peels and turtle shells all over the place!

cuteSAVAGE @ May 19th 2009 1:10PM

The program using a game with a fixed steering wheel, that isn't floating in mid air, is sure to win over this.

dark_inchworm (on Steam!) dark inchworm (on XBL!) @ May 19th 2009 1:41PM

And I would hope that program's a bit more realistic. I can drive well enough in real life that I haven't had a wreck in my several years behind the wheel, but I can't drive worth a damn in any racing game, not even Mario Kart.

Cox Attack @ May 19th 2009 3:02PM

I would think driving a car with a floating steering wheel would personally be harder to operate than driving a normal car while texting(which I do everyday).

Boomaga @ May 19th 2009 1:12PM

I can attest to the problems created by playing Mario Kart impaired. Christmas Eve 2003, my friends and I turned Double Dash into a drinking game. All-Cup Circuit, take a shot after coming in first after every race. 9 first-place finishes later and I couldn't physically stop myself from flying off Rainbow Road at every turn!

ducttapeBigSexy @ May 19th 2009 1:12PM

But I already know how awesome drunk driving is thanks to GTA IV.

infernus @ May 19th 2009 7:17PM

I was about to suggest GTAIV as a better game to do this with...

Pretty accurate too. I was about to call my CUZIN and hit the rail on a bridge; flew right out the windshield and thought I'd land in the water...was a few feet short. Died.
inb4 "noob, l2textanddrive"