Road safety hero: Blenheim student wins AMI award

AMI is celebrating a young New Zealander who’s leading by example behind the wheel.

For the first time, AMI has announced a Supporting Excellence Student Award winner through the Ryda programme, recognising Blenheim high school student Zane Lott for his leadership, responsibility and standout road safety mindset as a young driver.

Delivered through AMI’s partnership with Road Safety Education Limited (RSE), the award acknowledges students who show excellence in their communities. After completing RSE’s Ryda programme, Zane earned strong commendations from teaching staff for his maturity, sound judgement, and willingness to speak up.

“One of the biggest takeaways for me was that being a safe driver also means speaking up when something isn’t right – whether that’s driving too fast, not leaving enough following distance, a vehicle issue, or someone you know breaking their licence conditions,” says Zane.

Zane’s award nomination also highlighted his confidence to share ideas and encourage peers to act responsibly both on and off the road.

Steph Ferris, AMI Executive General Manager Claims says: “We’re proud to celebrate young people who not only form safe driving habits early on but demonstrate excellence by positively influencing those around them.”

Last year, AMI recorded more than 235,000 collision related claims – an average of around 645 claims every day.¹

“Our data is a reminder that road safety can’t be something we think about only occasionally.”

Steph’s advice is clear: remember the power of a positive and courteous attitude when you’re driving. Being kind and considerate on the road really does make a difference.

To mark Road Safety Week and this year’s theme, Be a road safety hero², AMI spoke with its team of road safety champions who shared the following insights:

Satyam trains and supports AMI MotorHub collision repair apprentices and technicians who, alongside the wider team, complete more than 30,000 vehicle repairs each year. With a 24 year career in the automotive industry, he understands the importance of championing road safety from a confronting perspective, seeing the consequences of road accidents every day in the vehicles he repairs.

“In my training role, the habits formed in the workshop naturally extend beyond it. The vigilance, consistency and care required to repair vehicles is the same behaviour that encompasses road safety. When you’re training people, you quickly realise how important it is to set a consistent example of responsible decision-making.

“Every decision we make on or around the road – whether driving, cycling or walking – helps protect not only ourselves, but everyone around us.”

As AMI’s community risk expert, Gary has supported more than 17,500 drivers to take a break along their journeys at AMI’s Driver Reviver events, held along major routes across the country during busy holiday and long-weekend periods. Drivers are encouraged to pull in, grab a free coffee and bite to eat and take a break before getting back on the road.

“In collaboration with local road safety experts, AMI’s Driver Revivers raise awareness of driver fatigue, which our data shows is a concerning contributor to collisions,” says Gary.

“These events highlight how simple interventions can save lives – taking regular breaks along your road trip with planned bathroom and food stops really can help drivers stay alert behind the wheel.”

Alongside the AMI Roadside Rescue Team, Ricky assisted with a record number of callouts last year: 58,000 roadside rescues, with battery-related breakdowns accounting for about 55% of these, and around 550 callouts due to collisions. Ricky has seen first hand the risks drivers face when vehicles break down or journeys don’t go to plan.

“Attending callouts, you realise how quickly things can go wrong on the road. We should check on our cars just as we would our friends – ultimately, we’re using vehicles every day to get us where we need to go so, it’s important we put in time for any needed maintenance.

“Simple steps like checking your oil, tyres and air pressure, taking time to wipe down exterior windows and mirrors on frosty mornings, and using headlights in gloomy conditions can make a real difference,” adds Ricky.

AMI is supporting communities and drivers with practical ways to stay safe on the road, beyond its insurance policy offerings:

• In November 2024, AMI Roadside Rescue began offering newly licensed Restricted or Full drivers a year of roadside assistance free, regardless of whether they’re insured with AMI. The initiative recognises that the first months behind the wheel can be daunting and provides a level of reassurance that help is on the way if something doesn’t go as planned.
• Free AMI Roadside Rescue included with AMI comprehensive car policies - covering the driver in any vehicle they drive.
• AMI’s free Driver Reviver events, now in their sixth year, are delivered during long weekends and peak holiday periods when fatigue related risk is highest. In March–April 2026, AMI ran its biggest Driver Reviver programme to date, with six events timed around the Easter and ANZAC travel period, offering free coffee, food and practical fatigue management tips at roadside stops across the country.
• In October 2025, AMI MotorHub, AMI Roadside Rescue and AMI Insurance joined forces to collectively sponsor the Ryda Road Safety programme, delivered by Road Safety Education Limited (RSE) - proudly supporting young people to become safer drivers and passengers.

About Ryda

Ryda is a NZTA Waka Kotahi–approved, non profit programme delivered across Australia and New Zealand, equipping young drivers and passengers with the knowledge, skills and motivation to make safer choices. Between July 2025 and June 2026, nearly 20,000 students will have participated in the Ryda programme: About Ryda - Road Safety Education.