He's no stranger to reaching 300km/h on the track, but Kiwi V8 Supercar legend Greg Murphy preaches safe speeds and smart decisions when it comes to driving on the road.
The four-time Bathurst winner visited Rotorua Boys' High School yesterday afternoon to discuss the importance of road safety and the impact young drivers have on our roads, themselves and the community.
In 2013, the road toll for 15 to 24-year-olds rose by eight per cent, and this year so far, the road deaths for this age group are up 4.5 per cent.
In the Bay of Plenty region, there have been 14 road fatalities this year and Mr Murphy said New Zealand did not put enough emphasis on those deaths.
"We have had a culture here for too long that it is our 'God-given right to drive' which is not the case. It should be difficult to get your licence and we should be teaching our young people to be good drivers from the start."
Mr Murphy said the key to safer roads was better education of road safety.
"What this programme does is expose the realities of dangerous driving. Many young men and women think they are invincible so we need to lift their thinking and decision making."
Rotorua Boys' High School Year 12 student Nick Spedding, 16, said the presentation gave him a greater knowledge of the dangers on the road.
"There is no need for unsafe speed. It's our lives on the line, and that is not something to gamble with."
Nick said he understood how important it was to be a sensible driver and make good decisions.
"If you have mates in your car and you are making stupid decisions, it's not just your life on the line but theirs too. That's the scary part, it's one thing taking a chance on your life but you couldn't live with yourself if it was one of your mates."
The "Murph in schools" road safety programme has been running for eight years, organised by the Motor Trade Association.
Its aim is to bring the road safety message to schools in an attempt to curb unnecessary road accidents involving young drivers.
Mr Murphy will be speaking at Rotorua Lakes High and John Paul College today.