High school students meet Grim Reaper

By ALANAH MAY ERIKSEN
Rotorua Boys' High School students have laughed in the face of death.

But not for long.

Bemused pupils greeted the appearance of two "grim reapers" at a school assembly yesterday with humour.

But the mood sobered as students realised why the grim reapers had paid them a visit.

The grim reapers pulled 25 students out of the assembly and on to the stage.

The assembly was told the students represented the number of youths killed on New Zealand roads in the past 12 months.

The graphic display of the impact of drink driving was organised by the school's Students Against Drunk Driving (SADD) team.

It was deliberately staged before the school's July 8 ball.

Each student on stage held a white cross and sign detailing the scenario in which they "died" and details about themselves.

One sign read: "Age: 17. Riding on the bonnet of a car, alcohol and speed-related crash. Brain dead, life-support turned off. Family: partner and a 3-week-old son".

Student Bradley Nielsen, 17, said students would probably think twice before drinking and driving after the sobering display.

"It was a different way to do things and capture people's attention."

Sergeant Denton Grimes also talked to the students about driving safe.

Mr Grimes, of Rotorua's police Traffic Alcohol Group, told students it took just two drinks an hour to be over the limit.

"Any form of communication to get the message across, whether it be shock tactics or informal talks, is beneficial," Mr Grimes told the Daily Post.

"Hopefully it worked putting 25 kids up on stage.

"You hear the number and you think 'Sure 25' but when they're all standing up there in front of you, you realise that's a lot of deaths that could have been prevented."

SADD team member Jordan Pinker, 17, said the idea for the assembly came to him when he attended a national SADD conference.

The group have worked with the police and the Rotorua District Council's Drivewise department to organise the event. "We hope to let people know what not to do when they're drunk after parties and stuff."

Drivewise road safety co-ordinator Marsella Edmonds said SADD committees from Rotorua high schools met at the council every eight weeks.

They listened to guest speakers and brainstormed ideas about what could be done to stop drink drivers.

Meanwhile Rotorua Girls' High School has its own SADD activity to coincide with ball season. Students will have one of their limbs put in plaster and will have to raise money before they can have the cast chopped off.