Six teenagers who are steering other young drivers towards improved road safety had their efforts recognised this week.
The members of Sadd (Students Against Dangerous Driving) attended a function at Caltex Alexandra, where they were given certificates marking their contribution to road safety in Otago and Southland.
The year 12 and 13 pupils are in a group of about 30 around the country to be selected for the Sadd national young leaders group.
The organisation, which changed its name last year from Students Against Driving Drunk, was celebrating its 30th birthday.
National manager Julie Elliotte said Sadd was a unique organisation, driven by the need and desire to make New Zealand roads safer.
Without the pupils' peer education, this would not be possible, she said. Caltex sponsored the Sadd programme and supported the national leaders group.
''This group is leading the way to make a difference on a broad range of issues,'' Mrs Elliotte said.
The teenagers on the national leadership programme took part in workshops and came up with videos and other resources to further Sadd's campaign.
''All our great resources are student-led,'' she said.
Recipients of the certificate were Zoe Windner and Lily Bloomfield, both of Wakatipu High School, Alec McWhirter, of Gore High School, Stephanie-Anne Ross, of South Otago High School, Grace Dickson, of Queen's High School, and Autumn Forbes, of Lawrence Area School (all 17).
Jolanda Williams, of Caltex Alexandra, said it was important to recognise the contribution made by the young leaders, who provided a strong youth voice.
Alec said young people had the mistaken belief they were ''bulletproof ''.
The Sadd group was one way of exerting some positive peer pressure.
Grace thanked the emergency services, who also attended the function.
''We couldn't do what we do without you doing your job and telling us the stories so we can take them on board and put them together in a way young people can understand them and handle them and learn from them.''
Zoe had organised a range of events at her school to mark Sadd's awareness campaign - ''Remember September''.
The events were aimed at raising teenagers' awareness of safer driving and included house quizzes, short-film screenings and a pledge wall where year 13 pupils could leave a handprint as a pledge to never drink and drive.
''Being able to organise school-based events and share them with like-minded people around the country means we have tons of support to play our part in the big picture.
''Alone, they are small steps, but if we take enough of them, we can make a real improvement to road safety,'' she said.
Also selected for the Sadd national young leaders group, but absent from the function, were Jordan Chalmers (17), of King's High School, Dunedin, Autumn Scarf-Matthews (17), of Otago Girls' High School, Dunedin, and Jacob Brown (17), of Aparima College, Riverton.
They will receive their certificates at a later ceremony.
