TEENAGERS are being warned about driving dangers at an event which aims to reduce the hundreds of youngsters killed or fatally injured on the roads.

Drink and drug-driving, the consequences of driving antisocially, and the importance of wearing seatbelts were all subjects touched on by the Wise Drive event, which is being held this week at the Riverside Stadium in Middlesbrough.

Youngsters were also shown what injuries they could suffer in road accidents, and the resuscitation methods that might be used, as well as the dangers of distractions for road users, such as mobile phones.

Year 10 pupils – aged 14 and 15 – attended the event from across the area. Teenagers to under 25s are most at risk of road deaths.

The interactive event has been running in the Durham area for a number of years and features a driving simulator and a number of workshops which show the “fatal four” causes of fatal or serious road traffic collisions.

More than 210 youngsters aged 15-24 have been killed or badly injured on roads in the Cleveland Police force area over the last five years and it is hoped that the event will educate them to take more care on the roads.

Eleven secondary schools signed up to take part in the event but the force hopes this number will increase over time.

Chief Inspector Graham Milne, from the Cleveland and Durham Specialist Unit, said: “Young road users feature disproportionately in road death statistics across the country so the aim of this event is to educate young people about road safety.

“By focussing on some of the major factors which can cause fatal or serious collisions, we hope that the information could be used to help keep young people safe.

“The Wise Drive event has already gained support in the Durham area and we hope to continue to gain interest in the event in the Cleveland area.”

Police and Crime Commissioner for Cleveland, Barry Coppinger, said: “Road traffic collisions are one of the biggest causes of deaths amongst young people in the UK. This event is really important for schools to get involved in as it can potentially help save lives on roads across Cleveland.”

The event is led by Cleveland and Durham Specialist Operations Unit with support from Cleveland Fire Brigade, local authorities and the North East Ambulance Service.

Young drivers aged 17 to 24 are at a much higher risk nationally of crashing than older drivers, and those aged 16 to 19 are a third more likely to die in a crash than drivers aged 40-49.

Young, male drivers are also involved in many more crashes than young female drivers, statistics from road safety charity Brake show.

And despite drivers aged 17-19 only making up 1.5 per cent of UK licence holders, they are involved in nine per cent of fatal and serious crashes where they are the driver.