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Mother calls for text driving ban | Mother calls for text driving ban |
(19 minutes later) | |
The family of a woman killed by a driver who was sending a text message is campaigning for tougher laws for motorists caught using mobile phones. | The family of a woman killed by a driver who was sending a text message is campaigning for tougher laws for motorists caught using mobile phones. |
Philippa Curtis, 21, smashed into the back of a stationary car at 70mph on the A40 in Oxfordshire, killing 24-year-old Victoria McBryde. | Philippa Curtis, 21, smashed into the back of a stationary car at 70mph on the A40 in Oxfordshire, killing 24-year-old Victoria McBryde. |
Ms McBryde's mother Jennifer Ford said texting should be treated like drink driving and lead to an automatic ban. | Ms McBryde's mother Jennifer Ford said texting should be treated like drink driving and lead to an automatic ban. |
The family is looking for support from the public on social networking sites. | The family is looking for support from the public on social networking sites. |
Currently, anyone caught using a mobile phone while driving is given a £60 fine and gets three penalty points on their licence. | Currently, anyone caught using a mobile phone while driving is given a £60 fine and gets three penalty points on their licence. |
I have been left with a black hole in my heart Jennifer Ford, victim's mother | |
"This is not a deterrent," Ms Ford told the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme. | "This is not a deterrent," Ms Ford told the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme. |
"It should be the same as drink driving. | "It should be the same as drink driving. |
"I have been left with a black hole in my heart." | "I have been left with a black hole in my heart." |
Curtis, of Bury St Edmunds, was found to have sent 20 texts and had taken two phone calls before crashing in November 2007. | Curtis, of Bury St Edmunds, was found to have sent 20 texts and had taken two phone calls before crashing in November 2007. |
One unopened text was on her phone and it is thought she was trying to look at it when her car ploughed into Miss McBryde's car. | One unopened text was on her phone and it is thought she was trying to look at it when her car ploughed into Miss McBryde's car. |
She was sentenced to 21 months in jail and given a three-year driving ban for causing death by dangerous driving. | She was sentenced to 21 months in jail and given a three-year driving ban for causing death by dangerous driving. |
The Attorney General is currently reviewing the sentence. | The Attorney General is currently reviewing the sentence. |
Her lawyers said she and her family are "distraught" over what happened and are "desperately sorry". | Her lawyers said she and her family are "distraught" over what happened and are "desperately sorry". |
Ms Ford and her daughter Charlotte are running an online petition on the Downing Street website, Facebook and Twitter to try to get a change in the law. | Ms Ford and her daughter Charlotte are running an online petition on the Downing Street website, Facebook and Twitter to try to get a change in the law. |