A road safety campaign launched by Suffolk and Norfolk police, featuring headcam footage recorded by a motorcyclist who was killed in 2013, has won a top public relations award.

David’s Story won Gold for the Public Sector Campaign at the CIPR (Chartered Institute of Public Relations) PRideAwards for the Anglia, Thames and Chiltern region in Cambridge on Thursday night.

Judges said the campaign was “sensitively handled”, and that the police communications team were “creative, brave and professional” in the production and delivery of the video, which featured film captured on the headcam of Norwich motorcyclist David Holmes, killed on the A47 at Honingham in June 2013.

The campaign aimed to get riders and drivers thinking about road safety. It attracted worldwide attention and has had more than 17.4 million views to date.

The award was accepted by Chief Inspector Chris Spinks, head of roads policing in Norfolk and Suffolk; David’s mother Brenda Holmes; Beth Durham, head of corporate communications for Norfolk and Suffolk, and Laura Bagshaw, senior news officer at Norfolk Constabulary.

Ch Insp Spinks said: “It’s an honour to receive this award for David’s Story, which I believe can only have a positive effect on casualty reduction across Norfolk, Suffolk and beyond.

“A large amount of this success would not have been possible without the continuing support of Brenda and her family and it was pleasing to have her with us accepting the award last night.”

Mrs Holmes said: “I’m delighted the campaign has been recognised and I would like to thank Chris, Laura and the rest of the team for all the hard work which allowed the video to be released and this is something I know David would have wanted me to do. I think he would be proud of what we have achieved.”

The campaign also received the Motor Industry Public Affairs Association (MIPAA) Chairman’s Award in December 2014.