Expo aims to spread road-safety message to teens

Local people who have been impacted by tragedies on the roads will be sharing their stories at the Road Safety Youth Expo.

Held on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, the expo aims to spread the message of road safety to Rotorua youths and make them more aware of their vulnerability while driving.

Rotorua District Council road safety co-ordinator Jodie Lawson said they were expecting 1000 students to visit the expo.

Although primarily for year 10 students, Ms Lawson said they wouldn't turn anyone away who wished to attend. There would also be two evenings open to the public for parents and their teenagers.

"We've got primarily local speakers willing to share their own personal tragedies and experiences in the view of improving the choices our young people are making on the road. A choice made by them effects more people than just themselves."

Included with a number of guest speakers, emergency services will share stories about what it's like for them to cut someone out of a vehicle. Ms Lawson said among the speakers would be a grieving mother and a young woman who had been hit by a person who was texting and driving.

She said the expo was created last year in response to high profile road accidents and deaths involving Rotorua teens in 2010.

Schools will be attending the expo during the day.

The evening workshops for parents and teenagers start at 7pm on Tuesday and Thursday at the Holiday Inn. Entry is free and no registration is required.