Mila: A Young Road Safety Hero Making a Real Difference

We recently had the privilege of speaking with Mila, the incredibly inspiring recipient of the 2025 Road Safety Hero award. Her dedication to making our roads safer, especially amongst her peers, is truly remarkable.

Mila's nomination came from a thoughtful friend who recognised her deep involvement in road safety initiatives. This included her active participation in the local fire brigade and her crucial role in establishing a SADD group at her school. A significant moment that highlighted Mila's character was witnessing a pedestrian being hit by a car – an experience that undoubtedly solidified her commitment to this cause.

"It was very impressive," Mila shared, describing the Road Safety Week launch. The Auckland Sky Tower, Harbour Bridge, and PwC building illuminated in a united yellow glow. For Mila, seeing various organisations come together and listening to insightful speakers underscored the collective effort in promoting road safety.

Mila's passion for road safety stems from a long-standing connection with the local fire brigade. Starting at the young age of 14, she would accompany her dad to training sessions. This early exposure provided her with firsthand knowledge of the devastating consequences of road accidents. Once she turned 16 and joined the brigade, she noticed a concerning trend: "it's mostly just young people in the car crashes." This realisation, fuelled her desire to raise road safety awareness.

Driven to make a difference within her school community, Mila decided she wanted to bring SADD into her school as part of her leadership team responsibilities. Leveraging her connections with FENZ and attending the SADD Waikato workshop, she has successfully brought the SADD message to her peers.

Mila’s efforts culminated in an impactful Road Safety Week at school. Mila organised a series of activities, including an impairment vision goggles obstacle course led by a local Constable Brian Connors to put into perspective the effect that drunk driving has on your vision & reaction time. Along with quizzes and information sessions further engaged students. The week's highlight was a powerful car cutting demonstration by Mila with the local Whitianga Fire Brigade, where students could witness firsthand the process of extracting someone from a wrecked vehicle.

As a volunteer for FENZ (Fire and Emergency New Zealand), Mila actively promotes collaboration between the two organisations. Mila believes that ongoing engagement between local fire brigades and schools, through demonstrations and talks, is crucial for spreading the road safety message.

Her message to her peers is clear and concise: "The most important one is to just make wise choices. Don't drink and drive, don't go on your phone while driving and don't be peer pressured into doing things. Just make wise decisions and just stick to the rules."

Looking ahead, Mila is focused on ensuring the sustainability of the SADD group at her school. Recognising that her upcoming graduation is at the end of the year, she is actively seeking younger students to take the reins and continue this vital work.

Mila's dedication, initiative, and genuine desire to protect her community make her a truly deserving recipient of the Road Safety Hero award. Her efforts serve as a powerful reminder that young people can be instrumental in driving positive change and fostering a culture of safety on our roads. We commend Mila for her inspiring work and wish her all the best in her future endeavours!