"I thought it would just be a bit of fun." The harrowing words today of teenager Barrie Stoves on the "joyride" that claimed the lives of two of his friends and of van driver Peter Alexander.

Barrie is lucky to be alive.

He was one of four teenagers who took part in a terrifying high-speed ride around York last April.

Just before the Audi driven by his mate, Joel Corner, crashed into Mr Alexander's van, the terrified teenager and another boy pleaded to be let out.

Minutes later Joel, his friend, front-seat passenger Daniel Wright, and Mr Alexander were dead.

Barrie will have to live with what happened to his friends for the rest of his life. But he has shown real courage in speaking out in support of The Press's Live Now, Drive Later campaign.

The 16-year-old has also agreed to appear in our hard-hitting video aimed at teenagers about the dangers of taking and driving a car while underage.

"You just don't think it through at that age," he said. "Hopefully, the video will make teenagers realise what might happen if they do this sort of thing."

It is only a couple of weeks since former York College student Nicola Cundall, who lost the use of her legs when her Renault Clio collided with another vehicle, appeared in a video herself as part of a hard-hitting play about the dangers of driving.

The play was performed at York schools.

Nicola was not "joy riding". But she does believe young people wrongly feel an accident can never happen to them - and that they must take more care.

We hope teenagers listen to what Barrie and Nicola are telling them. You might think it is fun to drive too fast. You might think you are invincible.

Barrie and Nicola's stories prove that you are not.