Tuesday 25 May 2004

Young Drink Drivers Targeted Head On

Speed, alcohol and modified cars are the theme of a hard hitting, action packed event being held this Friday by the Auckland Youth Development Trust in conjunction with Auckland City Council and Land Transport Safety Authority (LTSA). The Too Fast Too Furious event will feature local hip-hop, break dance and DJ performers, drama and car displays from the NZ Nissan club, South Pacific Tyres and MG Rover NZ.

In a bid to reinforce the tragic realities of drink driving, Auckland Central Police (O/C Serious Crash Unit), St John's Ambulance and the NZ Fire Service will also stage a gruesome re-enactment of a car crash with victims trapped inside the vehicles. Caine Warren, Director of the Auckland Youth Development Trust says the growing numbers of youth involved in minor, serious and fatal car crashes prompted the non-profit organisation to hold the event.

"Auckland City had been looking for organisations to provide a programme like this," says Warren. "We currently run youth programmes throughout the Auckland region in areas like drug rehabilitation, counselling for abuse and courses which offer valuable life skills. Too Fast Too Furious is just an extension of our work."

Warren says the show aims to challenge the mentality among some youth that: 1) Drinking and drive at excessive speeds is trendy 2) Getting caught drinking and driving is trendy 3) I'm a safe driver - it's others who need to be watched.

The three-hour multimedia presentation is a high energy, entertaining, multicultural night with sombre messages for people of all ages. A live drama is woven throughout Too Fast Too Furious and ends with an unforgettable tangi scene on a marae as kaumatua attend to the last rites of a boy who dies in a drunken car crash.

"We want to get the message across that safe communities aren't just the responsibility of young people - the elders have to be accountable as well. This is an issue which affects all families in New Zealand," says Warren. More than 2000 youth are expected at the Too Fast Too Furious event including pupils from high schools around Auckland.

Admission is free.

Too Fast Too Furious will be held this Friday, 28 May between 7 pm and 10.30 pm at 18 Allright Place in Mt Wellington, Auckland.

ENDS

© Scoop Media