The sister of an Otley teenager who was killed by a drunk driver is calling on the Government to change the law.
Sixteen-year-old Jamie Still lost his life on New Year's Eve, 2010, when he was hit by a car driven by someone who was twice over the drink drive limit and speeding.
Now, Jamie’s 13-year-old sister Rebecca has started an online petition calling for “zero tolerance” against drink-drivers.
Her petition, which has also been distributed to local businesses, urges the Government to toughen the law so drink drivers automatically lose their licence and receive longer prison sentences.
The family was left outraged after learning that Arthington man Max McRae, who was sentenced last September to four years in jail for causing Jamie’s death by careless driving, while over the legal alcohol limit, had been allowed to keep his driving licence for months afterwards.
Rebecca’s petition says: “When my brother was 16 he was knocked down and killed by a drink driver. He was on the pavement and his friends had to watch.
“The guy who ran my brother over was twice over the limit and didn't lose his driving licence until eight months afterwards. How is this fair?
“His sentence is only for four years in prison but he might be let out after two for good behaviour.
“The sentence isn’t cruel enough for what he did.
“If he was caught drink-driving, but hadn't killed anyone, he would have lost his licence at the scene but because he did kill someone it took eight months for the licence to be taken away from him.
“We want zero tolerance for drink drivers so they lose their driving licence straight away, and go to prison for longer.”
Jamie’s mother Karen Strong spoke out about the consequences of drink- driving before Christmas in a bid to make any motorists tempted to take the risk to think again. Jamie, a student at St Mary’s School, Menston, was hit by McRae’s Vauxhall Corsa while he was crossing Boroughgate, in Otley, on the evening of December 31, 2010.
Rebecca’s petition can be viewed and signed at www.thepetitionsite.com /1/zero---tolerance-for-drink-drivers-in-the-uk.
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