The energetic Crash Bash Road Show, a touring event that promotes road safety to Christchurch high school students, kicks off on Tuesday 28 February and presents a strong message for teenagers around driving, alcohol and their peers.

This year's road show, entitled Stand Up, will tour Christchurch high schools throughout March, incorporating drama and music to share its message of "standing up" to the pressure to make risky decisions. The show has been developed by CPIT's National Academy of Singing and Dramatic Art (NASDA).

Secondary students will then be invited to submit DVDs of their own performance concepts, with the winning entry being crafted by NASDA into the following year's road show. The $1000 cash prize is an incentive for young people to get creative and think about practical solutions.

Sarah Numan, Unit Manager Business Support at the Christchurch City Council, says young people aged 15 to 19 are disproportionately represented in New Zealand road crash statistics.

"We want to see a shift in these statistics by targeting young people in new and creative ways and encouraging students to come up with their own interpretations and messages. Young people speaking to their peers comes across much better than another lecture from an adult," she says.

Crash Bash director and NASDA tutor Ross McKellar says the show prepares young people to stand up for themselves, their friends and their family. "We're not focusing on the consequences, because young people know them already. We're all about staying strong and taking action. That's the message that needs to be heard at the moment, and Crash Bash has young people spreading it in a fun way."

The annual road show is run by the Council in association with the New Zealand Transport Agency and SADD (Students Against Driving Drunk).