A Mandurah woman’s work in promoting safe road behaviour has been recognised with an accolade at the 7NEWS WA Young Achiever Awards.
Tayla Stone was awarded the Insurance Commission of WA Road Safety Advocate Award at the ceremony on June 7 at Pan Pacific Perth.
Ms Stone was recognised for her work in road safety advocacy, in which she shares her story of suffering a spinal cord injury which left her paralysed after a life-altering dirt bike crash at the age of just 16.
The horrific accident completely up-ended her life.
Ms Stone has since made it her mission to educate young people about the importance of making good decisions before and after they get behind the wheel.
The 29-year-old presents in workshops with the Paraplegic Benefit Fund and Royal Perth Hospital’s Prevention of Alcohol-Related Traumas in Youth program, where she speaks from her own experience about the dangers of speeding and inattention while driving.
Ms Stone said the recognition was “still sinking in” and she hoped to use it to expand on her public speaking engagements.
“I would like to be able to spread my wings and do not just road safety (but also) talking about underage drinking and drug use for young people,” she said.
“And putting my message out into the universe, which is think before you do … helping people and just reminding them that life is fragile.
“It’s given me that confidence that what I’m doing is a good thing, it is needed, it is being appreciated.”
The night’s overall winner of 7NEWS WA Young Achiever of the Year was Lucy Stronach, who was recognised for her volunteer work.