Tamworth Young Drivers Expo started with a crash scenario in which a teen who's been drinking gives a lift to two friends; one ends up seriously hurt and the other dead.

There were also workshops and activities on heavy vehicles, drugs, alcohol, driving skills, brain injuries and even car insurance.

The event refuses to pull any punches when it comes to keeping young drivers alive on the road, and this was the 23rd time it had been staged.

About 1000 year 11 students attended this year from across this part of NSW.

In the crash scenario, a car rolls over at speed and slams to a stop; sirens blare; blades screech as the vehicle is cut open; an injured passenger screams.

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Organisers said the story had been used "time and time again" because not only was it realistic, but it was also based on a real incident.

"We set it on Moree Creek Road; we identified that as being an area outside of town where parties can generally happen on properties," Tamworth Regional Council event co-ordinator Crystal Vero said.

"Those year 11 students are most likely going from learner to provisional [licence and] will be attending parties."

NSW Ambulance duty operations manager Brian Lakin said the expo was conceived in 1997 after "a tragic incident [that] happened in Tamworth ... where there were a number of young people in a similar situation to the crash scenario that lost their lives".

He said the emergency services workers of the time, along with other community leaders, were adamant "this should never happen again".

"We didn't want to pull any punches; we're trying to make this as realistic as we can and get the message across in the hope it never happens to these students."

This year, for the first time, retired Tamworth magistrate Mal MacPherson robed up to play in courtroom act of the scenario.

The event was held for four days at Tamworth Regional Entertainment and Conference Centre.