Road safety charity Brake, in partnership with Direct Line Group, has honoured parliamentarians, campaigners and volunteers for their efforts to raise awareness of road safety and help to prevent collisions.

Hundreds of Brake supporters gathered at the charity’s annual reception at the Houses of Parliament on Wednesday night to celebrate the work of everyone involved in UK road safety.

Awards were presented by Deborah Johnson, chairman of Brake’s board of trustees, and Gus Park, managing Director of Motor Insurance for Direct Line Group.

Gary Rae, director of campaigns and communications at Brake, said: “Our annual awards at the Houses of Parliament are an opportunity for Brake to thank all of its supporters for their hard work, and to recognise those individuals who have gone above and beyond in their efforts to improve road safety.

"I feel incredibly privileged to stand alongside so many individuals who share Brake’s passion for road safety, and who have worked tirelessly to make our roads safer for everyone.”

The winners:

Brake’s parliamentarian of the year award: Liz McInnes, MP for Heywood and Middleton

Liz has been recognised for her work supporting the campaign of Dawn and Ian Brown-Lartey to achieve justice for victims of road crime. Liz worked diligently on behalf of the Brown-Larteys, making representations in the Commons, and also behind the scenes with ministers. Liz also actively campaigned in the media to raise awareness of the need for a sentencing review for road crimes, and was a passionate supporter of Brake’s Roads to Justice campaign.

Brake’s campaigner of the year award: Dawn and Ian Brown-Lartey

Dawn and Ian Brown-Lartey lost their son, 25 year old Joseph, when a speeding driver ran a red light at more than 80 miles per hour. Shocked at the sentence given to the person who killed Joseph, they resolved to campaign for tougher jail sentences, and with their local radio station, launched the #JusticeforJoseph campaign.

They later endorsed Brake’s #RoadstoJustice campaign, taking the brave step of allowing the car in which Joseph died to be used to help launch the campaign, which proved to be Brake’s most successful-ever launch event.

Brake’s outstanding contribution by a journalist to road safety award: Michelle Livesey

A new award was introduced at this year’s ceremony, to recognise the important contribution that journalists can make to road safety campaigning.

The winner of this award is campaigning journalist Michelle Livesey of KEY 103. Michelle became involved in Dawn and Ian Brown-Larteys’ #JusticeforJoseph campaign very early on, offering support to the Brown-Larteys in spreading their campaign message and securing attention from other journalists and politicians. Michelle also became passionately involved in Brake’s #RoadstoJustice campaign; her involvement was instrumental to the campaign’s success.