This years' Hawke's Bay Youth Alcohol Expo is giving students a chance to experience the perils of drink driving first-hand.
Kendal Gowan, 16, from Karamu High School, had the sobering experience of attempting a series of simple tasks while wearing a pair of goggles designed to simulate alcohol or drug impairment. The goggles are just one of the educational features of the expo, which focuses on the risks and consequences of driving when impaired by alcohol or drugs. "We're all at the age of starting to drive, so we got the opportunity to experience what it would be like to drive while impaired by alcohol," she said.
Students had to perform simple tasks, such as walking to a car, opening the car door, grabbing the keys and putting them in the ignition. "You thought the car was further away than it actually was."
Miss Gowan managed to get the keys into the car's ignition eventually, after about four tries, she said.
"I wouldn't want to drive a car like that, and I wouldn't want anyone else to either."
Roadsafe Hawke's Bay regional manager Linda Anderson said the goggles simulated intoxication.
"It gives them [students] the effect of being intoxicated by distorting their vision."
Students could also be subjected to a roadside drug test while wearing the goggles. "We make it clear to them it's a simulation. It's about being able to carry these messages into real life."
Ms Anderson said feedback from students about this year's expo, which also featured presentations from alcohol-related crash survivors, had been extremely positive so far.
While up to 2500 students from the region's secondary schools, EIT and alternative education providers would attend the event, it was also open to the public.