Researchers at the University of Michigan's Transportation Research Institute have recently evaluated a new video game called "StreetWise" that allows teens to hone their driving skills without making themselves vulnerable to the risks of the road. In this study, teens helped test the program and gave feedback. The study evaluated the video game for its effectiveness in raising teen awareness of key driving risks and augmenting positive attitudes toward safe driving. Results of the study showed that playing StreetWise significantly increased perceptions of personal driving risk. However, concern over avoiding risky driving behaviors, attitudes toward driving guidelines and acceptance of driving guidelines did not change significantly as a result of playing the game. Girls were more likely than boys to show heightened awareness of driving risks and increased acceptance of driving guidelines. Other factors that influenced game outcomes included prior driving experience, video game playing experience, risk-taking propensity and living locale. A majority of teens said they enjoyed playing the game and that it helped them at least somewhat. However, they recommended that the game leave more decisions up to the drivers, such as whether to wear seat belts and use turn signals and when to check blind spots. They also asked to have some indication of the consequences of certain choices, such as degree of injury and car damage resulting from crashes.
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