A horrific crash in Timaru that claimed five young lives has prompted some tough conversations between parents and their teens.
One expert says it's as simple as sitting around the dinner table.
The aftermath of the deadly Timaru crash is a sobering reminder for teens to take road safety seriously - or at least it should be.
"I would like to say yes but probably experience would say no," Aoraki area commander Dave Gaskin says.
"[The] problem with young people is they think it will never happen to them and unfortunately it often does".
Just last night eerily similar circumstances occurred in Dunedin when a woman was injured after riding in the boot of a car that crashed in Dunedin. There were six people riding in the four-seat sedan.
Neuroscience educator Nathan Wallis says risky behaviour like this is all too familiar.
"Most of us when we're teenagers thought we were bulletproof."
Greg Murphy was 19 when he learnt his lesson.
"Made some bad calls and lost control of my car and crashed heavily into a bank into some trees."
He's hoping teens today learn differently.
"We've just gotta continue talking about the risks associated with driving and particularly young men in particular… and the way the brains are made up."
Experts say getting through to those most at risk can take some time - and effort.
"We have that conversation at the dinner table," Wallis said. "Here is the scenario, everyone is getting into the car, this driver looks a bit dubious, everyone's doing it but you don't want to do it, how do you get outta that?"
He said form strategies and rehearse scenarios "so when that happens in real life they won't just go with the flow they've got clear ideas in their head".
Preventing scenes tearing families apart.
