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A road safety event in Lower Hutt is aiming to educate Wellingtonians about the importance of safe driving on the nation’s roads.

The ‘SafeSpeed’ event, to be held at the Riverbank car park in Lower Hutt on Sunday 5th April, is aimed at the general community of road users and be family-themed with a strong interactive focus.

Already it has gathered substantial community support, with Hutt City Council, Hutt Valley Motorsport Club and representatives from Fire, Police and Ambulance all on board.

The event itself will feature displays and demonstrations from clubs, businesses and organisations relating to motorsport and road safety - including a ‘Jaws of Life’ demo by the New Zealand Fire Service and rescue displays by Wellington Free Ambulance.

There will also be a ‘Motorkhana’ event where local motorsport regulars will be taking members of the public through a timed technical course involving 180 degree spins and precision driving.

Organiser Victor Yuen, a local commercial real estate agent and motorsport enthusiast, says that the thinking of New Zealand drivers needs to change.

“Currently road deaths are the second biggest killer in New Zealand, with over 400 deaths per year – an average of more than one person every day - and that doesn’t even include those seriously injured.”

Mr Yuen says that Motorsport participants agree that the skills and experience they gain from motorsport events have helped tremendously in keeping them safe on the roads, and it is this thinking that he wants to introduce to a wider audience.

“Just imagine if the roads were filled with talented drivers like Scott Dixon and you will understand. SafeSpeed was created to educate on how the general community can experience such learning in a cost effective and fun manner.”

A secondary aim of this event is to thank Wellington Free Ambulance, who often comes face-to-face with the aftermath of unsafe driving of Wellington roads while attending over 42,000 emergency medical calls annually.

Entry to this event is free and gates open from 10am. More information can be found at http://www.wfa.org.nz/SafeSpeed/home.html

ENDS

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