MEDIA RELEASE

Tuesday 18 September, 2012

Road safety reaches new heights

Students at two high schools and UCOL in Palmerston North are being driven up the wall for road safety as part of a Horizons Regional Council exercise aimed at educating young drivers on the risks of drink-drug driving and distractions.

The schools and polytechnic will play host to a five metre high mobile Rock Up rock climbing wall over the next week as part of an activity described by Horizons road safety coordinator Alane Nilsen as “a fun way to engage young drivers with a serious road safety message”.

“Our teens are most at risk of crashing during the first 6-12 months of driving on their own and youth are over represented in serious and fatal road crashes across the board,” Mrs Nilsen says.

“The rock wall provides an opportunity for students to experience how distractions can affect their behaviour in a safe environment while promoting the importance of team work and reinforcing the need to ‘belt up’ and stay safe.”

Students tackle the climbing wall in teams of three and are encouraged to work together, looking out for their mates as they would on the road.

Students also have the opportunity to text, carry water or wear ‘booze goggles’, which replicate the sensation of being under the influence of drugs or alcohol, as they climb to demonstrate just how distractions and alcohol/drugs can affect their perception and ability to carry out basic tasks.

Mrs Nilsen says as well as testing their skills on the climbing wall, students will also have an opportunity to hop aboard the booze bus under the guidance of the Police TAG (Traffic Alcohol Group) Unit and Education Officers.

“While one group is climbing the wall, police officers will take another group through the bus where the police excess breath alcohol process will be explained and other aspects of alcohol/drug education will be discussed,” she says.

The rock wall will be at each school and UCOL for one full day with groups spending approximately 45-60 minutes participating in the road safety activities. The Rock Up mobile climbing wall will be operated by experienced instructor Geoff Pearson from Rock Up Adventure Activities.

More information about road safety in the region and Horizons’ role can be found at www.horizons.govt.nz

Ends

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