Mario Kart Wii helps teach children how not to drive
Monday, 18 May 2009 09:20
Mario Kart Wii
Mario Kart is being used to teach American children about the dangers of distracted driving.
In Vail Christian High School near Eagle in Colorado, students are given the opportunity to understand the dangers of using mobile phones while driving by using the motion-sensing gaming of Mario Kart Wii.
The high school's 'Distracted and Drowsy Driving Project' was created with the help of the Eagle County Sheriff's Department, the Colorado State Patrol, Eagle County Fire Fighters and the Vail Valley Medical Centre.
13-year-old Alli O-Brian
told 9-News how distracting it was to talk or text on a mobile phone whilst trying to win a race on Mario Kart:
"I ran into a lot of things and it was very stressful," said O'Brian.
Twenty schools from around the country are creating similar projects to recognise America's National Youth Traffic Safety Month, with the best school safety program being awarded $10,000. Hopefully Mario Kart will help Vail Christian High School bag the prize.
You can watch 9-News' report below, showing that the pupils are rarely on course and often crash into Mario Kart cows.
"I don't think I'll text," O'Brian said.