A Hastings mother has been presented with an award for her campaign to toughen road safety measures following the death of her son in a road accident.

Maria Dennis' 11-year-old son, Harry, died after being struck by an unsecured scaffolding board that fell from a flatbed truck while he was travelling as a passenger in his father's car in Hooe, near Bexhill, in December 2022.

Since her son's death Maria has campaigned to improve road safety regarding commercial vehicles and carrying safe loads.

She and PC Barry Freeman, from Sussex Police, were presented with the award at this year's UKROEd/NPCC Roads Policing Conference at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Manchester Airport.

placeholder image — Maria Dennis with her son, Harry

Maria said: “I felt honoured to have been asked to attend the conference by Sussex Police and spend two days with some of the leading names in the UK's road safety community. It was a fantastic opportunity to spend time with and talk to people who share the same deep-rooted passion for road safety.

“Then came the awards ceremony. To be stood on that stage, next to some exceptional humans who have all had a profound impact on road safety over a number of years blew me away.

“PC Barry Freeman, from Sussex Police’s commercial vehicle unit, has supported me over the past two-and-a-half years on my load security journey. I couldn’t have been any prouder to see our names on that screen as ‘Outstanding Contribution to Road Safety 2026’ winners.

“This award is for my boy, Harry. I will never stop championing for higher load security standards and road safety.”

Maria Dennis being presented with the award

Maria has travelled the length of the country to attend conferences, presentations and workshops as part of her campaign.

She has also been working with Hastings MP Helena Dollimore to call for change.

Earlier this year the MP presented Maria’s petition, signed by more than 2,000 people, to Parliament, calling for better safety standards in the scaffolding industry.