Online game developed by the NY Times in 2009, tests how well you can text and drive

Back in 2009, the New York Times posted a story about texting while driving. Included with the story was a link to a browser based game developed by the newspaper, that puts you behind the wheel. When you see a green sign containing a number, that is the lane that you have to switch to. Changing lanes requires you to use the keyboard of your PC to press the number of the lane you're moving to.

Three times during the game, a cellphone will appear with a text message on the screen. You have to answer the text while continuing to "drive." When answering the text, you copy the words on the phone that are in bold-text. Use your mouse to text from the on-screen phone. The game ends when the final text message is answered.

When the Times printed the story on August 4th, 2009, the paper said that "New studies show that drivers overestimate their ability to multitask behind the wheel." The smartphone explosion was just beginning, although text enabled handsets had already been around for some time.

Since the Times story, virtual voice-activated personal assistants like Siri, Google Now and Cortana have made it easier for smartphone users to communicate to others hands free while behind the wheel. Still, it might open your eyes to play the Times' game. This way, if you ever get the urge to text while driving, you will remember how difficult the task really is. And even if you manage to achieve a high score with this game, do not text and drive. The life you save might be your own.

source: NYTimes via BGR