Rotorua teen deaths prompt skills course

Valen van Zyl wants to do whatever she can to prevent being in a car crash.
The John Paul College student is one of 40 Rotorua school students who have registered to take part in a practical driving skills programme.
The skills programme, named Driver Directions, will be at the Taupo Motor Sport Park on April 18, and has been designed to help reduce the number of Rotorua youths involved in serious crashes.
The high-profile road deaths of Rotorua students Kristi-Rae Ruri-Gardiner and Jesse Howe last year prompted the initiative.
As part of the workshop, teenagers will practise driving skills including braking, parking and emergency reactions.
The course is a joint initiative between police and the Rotorua District Council and will provide a programme to help young drivers develop essential skills and knowledge to be safe and confident drivers.
As part of the campaign to reduce youth deaths, council and police representatives visited John Paul College and gave a presentation on driving.
Valen said the presentation made her realise she had a lot to learn when it came to driving and she should take part in the programme.
"They showed us pictures of the results of crashes," she said.
"Seeing the pictures made it a lot more real."
Valen said the course would provide valuable skills which she wouldn't be able to learn in a textbook.
"It is good to be able to see things for yourself and this will be in a safe environment."
The 16-year-old said she believed the biggest issue facing younger drivers was over-confidence.
"When you are young and first get your licence you think you know everything, but really you don't," she said.
"You face different hazards each time you drive and this is a good way to help people realise that."
Valen has her restricted licence and said she had her first driving incident a few weeks ago.
"I had parked between two cars and reversed to pull out of the park but didn't reverse enough and hit the car in front when I tried to pull out," she said.
"It wasn't serious but it did scare me because I knew I wasn't in control of the situation."
Programme organiser Jodie Lawson said the skills programme was fully booked and if it was successful it could become a regular event.