What if there were a video game that taught real-world driving skills in order to help make you a better driver though scenarios you’re likely to encounter on the road, including deer in your path? And what if there was a distracted driving section so you could experience how quickly things can go bad when texting behind the wheel? And what if you could get a virtual feel for the potential dangers of driving under the influence?

A driving course is now available online that utilizes the latest gaming technology to simulate hands-on exercises. It’s brought to you by Ford Driving Skills for Life (Ford DSFL) and was developed in partnership with Michigan State University. Its launch coincides with National Teen Driver Safety Week.

The video game is based on the award-winning Ford DSFL driving exercises taught in the traditional Ford DSFL hands-on clinics. The video game is an important aspect of the Ford DSFL program and the partnership with the Governors Highway Safety Association.

In fact, because it’s a game, it can put drivers through scenarios the hands-on training cannot.

You can access it at www.drivingskillsforlife.com. Once there, you’ll also find games that test your driving concentration and rush-hour traffic driving capabilities, plus there are driving tips and much more.

“Through the game, we are able to leverage the engagement and fun of gaming technology and use it to create an educational experience that is appealing to new drivers – many of whom have been playing video games for years,” said Brian Winn, Director of the Games for Entertainment and Learning Lab at Michigan State University.  “Within the safety of the game environment, we are able to put players in situations that simulate hands-on training, thereby avoiding making potentially deadly mistakes in the real world.”

Drivers can also select their car – sedan, truck, SUV, and more – and even customize it.

Ford DSFL, in partnership with AAA Michigan, Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning and Henry Ford Hospital-West Bloomfield, also is launching “Strive for a Safer Drive” which is a statewide effort in Michigan. It includes peer-to-peer safe driving campaigns, use of simulators in schools and professional hands-on driving clinics. The program will reach more than 30 high schools during a six-month period.