A safety event, targeting young drivers in the Eastern Bay, is set to take place in Te Kaha next month.

Summer Glaze, which will be held at School House Bay, Maraetai on January 9, offers young drivers a beach party with a message.

The event is part of the Eastern Bay Road Safety Programme.

Whakatane District Council community development advisor Lorreen Hartley says young drivers are a key priority for the Eastern Bay Road Safety team.

'For the five-year period from 2012-2016, there were 207 crashes involving young drivers in the Eastern Bay, including 27 fatal and 89 serious accidents, and nearly three-quarters of those drivers held a full licence.”

She says The Centre for Road Safety Intelligence has identified that alcohol was a particularly evident factor in the cluster.

'While fatal and serious crashes linked to alcohol were declining, young drivers often returned very high breath/blood alcohol results.”

Summer Glaze promotes zero tolerance.

Starting from 5pm, summer ‘mocktails' will be served, fun activities will be on offer, and there will be food and music.

To register for the event, go to Eventbrite.co.nz and enter key word Summer Glaze, or go to the EBOP Road Safety Facebook page.