AUCKLAND CITY COUNCIL

MEDIA RELEASE

28 March 2007

Auckland Town Hall buzzes with educational action

Auckland Town Hall will be a hive of activity today and tomorrow when 1200 international students learn some serious road safety messages in a fun and friendly environment.

With support from Waitakere and North Shore city councils, Auckland City Council is hosting the annual International Road Safety Days 2007 event to teach international students key tips about staying safe on New Zealand roads.

Over the two days, New Zealand Police will give one-hour road safety seminars to students groups from secondary schools and tertiary institutions across the Auckland region.

Following the talks, students will take part in practical sessions in the town hall’s concert chamber. Activities include a safety belt simulator, a display of illegally and legally modified cars and fatal vision goggles used in an obstacle course to illustrate the effects of drinking and driving. The police’s booze bus will also be on display outside the town hall.

Councillor Richard Simpson, the council’s Transport and Urban Linkages Committee chairperson, says the event aims to educate international students about road safety in New Zealand.

“International schools share our concerns for their students’ safety when travelling on Auckland’s roads, and have approached us for assistance,” says Mr Simpson.

“Feedback from the previous two years shows that this road safety event has been very worthwhile.”

The International Student Road Safety Days 2007 event is a partnership between New Zealand Police, Accident Compensation Corporation, Land Transport New Zealand, The New Zealand Brain Injury Association and Auckland, North Shore and Waitakere city councils.

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