Brake awards recognise road safety contributions

Brake, the road safety charity, recognised outstanding contributions to road safety with a series of awards at its annual reception at the Houses of Parliament on Wednesday evening (16 January).

The ceremony was attended by politicians, police and fire officers, road safety campaigners, fundraisers, company executives and the media.

Greg Mulholland, MP for Leeds North West, received the National Campaigner Award for his work campaigning for automatic licence suspension for drivers who have killed or are caught at twice the drink drive limit.

Mr Mulholland said: “We need this change, and I hope our efforts will ensure those who drive dangerously or carelessly, and go on to kill, will have their licenses suspended as a condition of bail.”

Steve Barclay, MP for North East Cambridgeshire, received the Community Campaigner Award for his successful year-long campaign for road safety measures on a stretch of the A47 that had seen a spate of crashes over a six year period.

Mr Barclay says: “It is pleasing to see the community work together to have a Minister listen and act on their concerns. I hope this stretch of road will be a little safer as a result.”

Bereaved father Tony Davidson won a national award for road safety education. Since the death of his son in a road crash in 2002, Tony has worked tirelessly to raise awareness about road safety, by engaging young people on the risks they face, and working with Brake in support of its national campaigns on young driver safety.

Tony said: “Nothing can ever put right the loss of my son, but helping other young people to be safe on the roads is so critical, and it’s all made worth it to hear the response of the young people I work with.”

The bereaved family of Lillian Groves won the Road Safety Campaigner of the Year award for their work campaigning for a new law to crack down on dangerous drug drivers.

Natasha Groves, Lillian’s mum, said: “As a family, we felt we couldn’t be defeated; we needed to do something to prevent others suffering the way we have. We could see the law needed to be changed, and roadside testing introduced, to stamp out the menace of drug driving. So we fought hard for Lillian’s Law, and were delighted to get the Government’s commitment.”

For more information contact Franki Hackett at Brake on 01484 550063.