The Lemon Car director Mark Poulton taught the students how to buy road-worthy cars, as well as not displaying p-plates on bonnets or behind number plates, and not using mobile phones while driving.

“I teach them how to look for a bald tyre, cracked windscreens, lights that don’t work and all the fines that go with it,” he said.

“When your car’s due for rego and it’s due for a pink slip it’s exactly what the mechanic does.”

However, he said the students wouldn’t be able to pass a pink slip themselves, it was a guide for what to look out for.

He said the course was especially helpful for students who had no father-figure in their lives, or didn’t have a parental-figure with knowledge of what to look for to ensure a vehicle was road-worthy. 

VIDEO: The Lemon Car director Mark Poulton speaking to students at Orange High School ...

He also told students to take someone with them to test the lights, blinkers and brakes when going to look at a second-hand car so they can see for themselves if everything worked.

“Don’t trust the person who’s selling the car, they are selling it for a reason, either they cannot afford to fix what’s wrong with it or they haven’t maintained it,” Mr Poulton said.

In addition to vehicle safety and hidden costs, Mr Poulton said he was passionate about people not using a mobile phone while driving after a distracted driver crashed into the back of his car causing significant damage, and injured his 70-year-old mother who was driving at the time.

Mr Poulton, is based in Newcastle but also visited schools in the Central West including Kelso, Blayney and Canowindra during the week.

“I would love a lot more schools while I’m here,” he said.

Interested schools can get in touch via www.thelemoncar.com.au.