Charged with increasing awareness about the need for motorists to safely share the road with bicyclists and pedestrians, OCTA created two videos and a video game using a $50,000 grant from the state Office of Traffic Safety (OTS).
The videos focus on people playing a driving video game and learning biking and safety rules in the process. OCTA took the unusual step of creating an actual playable video game that emulates the onscreen game. Visitors to the Play It Safe webpage play the game to learn about bike and pedestrian commuting rules.
OCTA’s goal is to educate more people about road safety using the fun but effective approach provided by the videos and video games. The rate of Orange County bicycle and pedestrian fatalities compared to all traffic fatalities are higher than statewide averages and are double the national average of 17 percent (2013). As a result, in 2012, OTS rankings showed that Orange County was the second most dangerous county in California for bicyclists under the age of 15, with 213 injuries and fatalities.
Through April 9, those that play and win the game can enter to win a $100 gift card.
Watch the videos and play the game here.