Pair receive national awards for road safety campaign
Maria Dennis and PC Barry Freeman were recognised.
Two individuals have received national recognition for their commitment to saving lives on our roads.
Maria Dennis and PC Barry Freeman attended the joint UK Road Offender Education and National Police Chiefs’ Council ceremony on 14 October to collect their award for ‘outstanding contribution to road safety’.
For the past three years, they have campaigned for improved safety among the commercial vehicle industry – specifically insecure loads, excess weight and excessive driver hours – as part of Operation Rule.
The operation was inspired by Maria, whose 11-year-old son Harry was tragically killed after being struck by an insecure scaffold plank which fell from a moving vehicle in Hooe, East Sussex, in 2022.
It is headed up locally by PC Barry Freeman, of the Sussex Police Commercial Vehicle Unit (CVU), and a number of other forces have also committed to the campaign.
In recognition of her award, Maria said: “I was so unbelievably proud to be stood up on that stage alongside PC Barry Freeman collecting our award.
“The support I have received from Barry and his CVU team, along with other CVU and roads policing units nationwide since May 2024 (when I first made contact with Sussex Police) has been phenomenal!
“I feel our shared passion for road safety, in particular load security, has driven our work together in improving industry standards and protecting all road users.
“I want drivers and businesses to know their actions can snatch away lives, innocent lives like Harry’s. The more we can share Harry’s voice up and down the country, the more we can have open and honest conversations, the safer we can make our roads.
PC Freeman said: “I was incredibly proud to receive a national award recognising my contribution to road safety. However, the real significance of this work goes far beyond any award.
“Over the past three years, I have had the absolute privilege of working alongside Maria Dennis, whose 11-year-old son tragically lost his life in an incident involving a loose scaffold board. No parent should ever have to experience the loss of a child, and I have the utmost respect for her strength and determination to keep fighting to help prevent other families from experiencing a similar tragedy.
“It has been a privilege to support her in turning such a devastating loss into something positive, helping to raise awareness and improve road safety through roadside checks, social media and local news channels.
“Her story is well known across the UK and is apparent by the amount of commercial companies in the industry that have approached her and engaged wanting to help.
“This work would not be possible without the incredible support and commitment of my team and our colleagues across the UK on Commercial Vehicle Units and roads policing units, who have supported and helped with Op Rule the national day on action to raise awareness of load security which gives us vital data on where to focus our efforts moving forward.
“To everyone who has contributed to these checks, supported the initiative, given their time, shared their expertise or helped spread the message, thank you. Your efforts make a real difference, and you should all feel proud of the part you play in keeping our roads a safer place.
“I would also like to express my sincere thanks to Maria whose courage and determination has been such an important part of this journey I am sure Harry would be so proud of his mum.
“Receiving this award is a great honour, but knowing that our collective efforts can help prevent further tragedies is what makes this work truly worthwhile.
“Thank you to everyone who has been part of the journey over the past couple of years. Together, we can continue to make a difference.”