AN Ivybridge policeman has received a coveted medal from Her Majesty the Queen for his work to keep young drivers safe on the road.

Sergeant Olly Tayler received the award from the Queen herself when he visited Buckingham Palace recently with his wife Emma and sons Charlie and Joe.

Sergeant Tayler was named in the New Year’s Honours List as the recipient of the Queen’s Police Medal for his 23 years of service in Devon and Cornwall Police.

He is currently based in the serious collisions unit in Plymouth, but until April worked out of Ivybridge Police Station, closer to his home in the Ivybridge area.

The long-serving copper believes that the main reason he was chosen is because of his work developing The Honest Truth, a national road-safety campaign aimed at young drivers.

The Honest Truth was born out of the tragic aftermath of a crash that claimed three young lives near Aveton Gifford in 2009. The campaign has gone from strength to strength and now reaches thousands of young people all over the UK and beyond.

Sergeant Tayler said: ‘The medal is only awarded to a handful of officers each year, and they tend to be higher-ranking, so to get it as a ­sergeant is an honour indeed.

‘I’ve done a lot in my 23-year career, but based on my conversation with the Queen it seems I was nominated because of my road-safety work with The Honest Truth.

‘The whole thing came from that crash on Aveton Gifford hill, and now it’s a really well-established national charity.

‘We’re getting an increasing number of enquiries from abroad as well – in fact, we’ve had one driving school in Florida contact us in the past few weeks.

‘The Queen asked me about my work with road safety and young drivers. She commented that they exceed the speed limit from time to time – I think that was the phrase she used.

‘I’m very proud to have been honoured with this award – and to have had the Queen herself present it to me was the absolute highlight of my career to date.

‘I would just like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has been involved in The Honest Truth, as without every one of them it wouldn’t have been the ­success that it has and ­continues to be.’

Chief Superintendent Jim Nye, head of operations for Devon, Cornwall and Dorset Police and the chair of trustees for The Honest Truth charity, said: ‘I’m delighted Olly has been recognised for his work with The Honest Truth. There’s no doubt the initiative wouldn’t have been the national success it is without his leadership, passion and commitment.

‘Olly has helped save lives. Is there a better accolade? I don’t think so.

‘Congratulations to him and to his family, who have supported him as he spent time away promoting The Honest Truth.’