Teens learn how to stay safe

Hoards of teenagers turned up for a road safety expo in Carterton on Friday, as well as Mayor Ron Mark to MC the event.

Classic cars, motorbikes, and damaged cars were on show as well as interactive exhibits and local youth band Koia.

Organiser Abby Cooper said it was held to encourage young people to stay safe on the roads and show them the positive sides of cars as well as the dangers.

She said there was a negative atmosphere around young drivers in the region, especially due to the recent deaths of young people involved in car crashes.

Wairarapa College students Ellen Gibson and Olivia Sutthoff said they came to the expo as they will be going for their learners' licences soon.

"I thought it would be good to learn about road safety," said Miss Sutthoff.

The Wairarapa Road Safety Council brought along the Buckle Up seat belt demonstrator that simulated going downhill at 7km/h without a seatbelt and crashing

"It shows you the impact, people don't understand what it's like at 100km/h or 50km/h," said Kerry Hefferen, road safety coordinator for the council.

She said most of the recent fatalities in Wairarapa were due to people not wearing seatbelts, so it was important to know what it was like to crash without one.

It is estimated that 25 lives could be saved in road crashes each year by wearing a seatbelt.

Makoura College student Ezra Stobbart said that, even after his second turn on the simulator, it was still unexpected.

"It gives you a massive fright, imagine it at 70km/h."

The "Last Choice" crash car was also there to give a reminder on the dangers of drink driving, said Ms Hefferen.

The car was donated to the Wairarapa Road Safety Council by the parents of a boy who was killed in a drink driving accident in Paekakariki.