Automotive Pre Trade students at CPIT are giving an 'extreme makeover' to the bogan car used by road safety staff to teach young people about illegal modifications to vehicles.
"It's looking great," says CPIT tutor Andy Trumper, "The students are delighted."
The bogan car was developed by the Waimakiri District Road Safety Committee in 2005 after the death of a 16 year old while driving his illegally modified car.
A vehicle was donated by a local car sales yard then modified by students on an automotive course at Waimakariri Youth Development Trust to highlight a range of faults and modifications which are often found on vehicles stopped by Police. Their challenge was to modify one half of the car correctly so it conformed with LTNZ modification rules, - then incorrectly modify the other half!
It has been in hot demand at local shows and events and has also been taken around high schools, where students are encouraged to check the car over and list all the faults they can find. Young people generally think it's pretty cool, says Chris Neeson, Wamakiri District Council.
"It acts as a magnet wherever it goes providing an opportunity for police to mix with young people and talk to them not only about illegal modifications but also other road safety issues, it's also a valuable training tool for police staff."
This vehicle has now travelled (not on the road of course!) many thousands of kilometres raising public awareness of the dangers of illegal modifications. And it's a bit tired.
An automotive Pre Trade class at CPIT has risen to the challenge and given it an extreme makeover. The car was plain white and not particularly eye catching. The students have really enjoyed the challenge of developing the car into something that will catch the eye of other teenagers.
Most of the students will move on to apprenticeships and jobs.