Helping drivers make right decision

Emergency services are using a crash involving teenagers at the weekend as an example of how bad decision making can nearly cost you your life.

Three teenagers crashed on Te Ngae Rd in a suspected drink- driving incident early on Saturday morning. Emergency services say it was an example of bad decision making, something they are raising awareness about at the City Focus and the Central Mall this week.

The Rotorua District Council is organising an anti-drink driving campaign this week, partnering with Rotorua police, fire and ambulance services to provide demonstrations and information to the public.

Rotorua Fire Service fire risk management officer Stuart Bootten said it was all about making the right decisions.

"Statistics are showing that alcohol is selling well and we want people to celebrate safely this Christmas period."

He said planning how you will get home, making a decision not to drive drunk and refusing to ride in a car with a drunk driver all helped stop serious alcohol-related crashes.

St John Rotorua paramedic Dave Jack said he was forced to hold a suspected drunk driver still for more than an hour on Saturday morning while he was being cut out of a wreckage.

Mr Jack said the driver and two passengers were lucky to be alive and the crash had taken away valuable resources and time from emergency services.

The displays will be on show from 9am to 3pm at City Focus until Thursday, then at Central Mall on Friday and Saturday.