A road safety video featuring shocking footage of a fatal crash in Norfolk has received a top motor industry award.WARNING: Some viewers may find the video distressing.
'David's story' attracted worldwide attention and has now been viewed almost 15 million times. It generated thousands of comments on the Norfolk and Suffolk police social media sites with messages received from people in Russia, USA, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Germany, France, New Zealand and Australia.
The video features film captured on the headcam of Norwich motorcyclist David Holmes, killed on the A47 at Honingham in June last year. His grieving mother Brenda had agreed to release the video of her son's crash as part of a police road safety campaign.
The Motor Industry Public Affairs Association (MIPAA) presented its Chairman's Award to Brenda and Chief Inspector Chris Spinks, head of roads policing in Norfolk and Suffolk.
The annual award is presented to an individual or organisation that has made an outstanding contribution to communication in, or related to, the motor industry.
Speaking afterwards, Brenda, a retired nurse from North Walsham, said: 'Although we know the video been widely viewed we cannot measure how successful it has been in terms of casualty reduction and for me this award shows that it has been of some value.
I would also like to thank Chris and the team who produced the video for their efforts in this campaign.'
MIPAA Chairman, Mike Orford, added: 'The courage of Brenda Holmes, supported by Norfolk and Suffolk Constabularies, in releasing a harrowing video that included the shocking moment when her son, David, was killed on his beloved motorcycle, has undoubtedly saved lives, and seen some good come from this terrible accident.
'This is the first time we have recognised road safety communications with the MIPAA Chairman's Award, as we wanted to acknowledge the global impact of the footage captured by the headcam fitted to David's motorcycle helmet.
The video made an outstanding contribution to road safety by getting riders and drivers to think about their actions, as well as attracting media and online coverage across the world and creating debate about the consequences of one moment of inattention.
There is no more worthy winner of the award for 2014 than Mrs Holmes and Norfolk and Suffolk Constabularies.'
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