The memories of police, ambulance and fire officers are filled with accident scenes they would much rather forget. They come from years of attending serious car crashes, many of them involving young people. Yesterday, they shared some of their experience and knowledge, in a bid to help young people make good choices for themselves when using our roads. Reporter John Lewis and photographer Peter McIntosh were there.
Agonising screams drew intense stares.
Seldom are secondary school pupils so engaged. Not a word was spoken - there was just an occasional glance at each other.
Seeing a dead body smashed through a windscreen and draped over the bonnet of a car, while emergency service crews cut a seriously injured driver out of another car, was graphic and horrific.
Fortunately, the deceased and the injured driver were just actors playing out a crash scenario as part of the 2015 Safer Journeys Expo at the Edgar Centre in Dunedin yesterday.
The comprehensive road safety initiative was aimed at year 11 pupils from secondary schools across Otago. More than 1000 pupils have seen the expo during the past two days. A further 600 will see it today.
Dunedin City Council transportation road safety adviser Deborah Palmer said the expo aimed to educate young people about safety in and around vehicles, and to increase awareness about road safety.
''We want them to see this before they start driving. It's about getting them to make the right call.
''The idea is to give students an experience which includes the real-life cause and effects of a crash.''
It included a crash scenario and sessions on modified vehicles, the physics of a crash, alcohol and road safety, and the human cost of these events.
Ms Palmer hoped the event would allow young people to make informed choices and, ultimately, save lives.
''What students take away is a tool kit of strategies to support them to make good choices for themselves and their peers when using our roads.''
The expo was funded by the New Zealand Transport Agency and the DCC, and involved about 50 staff from the DCC, New Zealand Police, St John, New Zealand Fire Service, Dunedin Hospital emergency department, NZTA, Fulton Hogan, crash survivors, a parent, Victim Support, local businesses and a number of volunteers.
Yesterday morning's session had a serious impact on East Otago High School pupil Maddyson Witehira.
''I've known people who have been killed in accidents.
''This was a terrible reminder. It's made me a little emotional.''
However, she said the event would not stop her from getting a driver's licence.
She said a licence was necessary when living in rural areas, so there was no reliance on parents for transport.
She believed the expo had educated her and her fellow pupils to be more cautious and sensible behind the wheel.
