DANGEROUS drivers who kill are set to face life sentences for the first time under a new crackdown announced by the Government - and the move has attracted widescale support in Bradford.

Motorists who cause death by speeding, street racing or while on a mobile phone are among those who could be handed tougher punishments.

Offenders convicted of causing death by careless driving while under the influence of drink or drugs could also be given life sentences under the Government plans.

Ministers hope the proposed move will see an increase in the punishments faced by those responsible for the most serious road offences.

Under the current regime they can attract a maximum sentence of 14 years - but the average custodial sentence for causing death by careless or dangerous driving was 45.8 months, or just under four years, in 2015.

Sarah Harrison, whose mum Mary Byrne, 51, died in April 2013 when she was thrown from a minicab hit by a car going at more than 60mph on Mandale Road, Horton Bank Top, welcomed the proposals.

Thomas Healey, of Clayton, was jailed for six years, and Joseph Robinson, of Clayton, was imprisoned for five years and three months, for causing Mrs Byrne’s death by dangerous driving.

The pair had been racing when Robinson’s BMW car smashed into the cab. Healey fled the scene.

Mrs Harrison said of the proposals for tougher sentences for drivers who kill: “That is brilliant, that is great, really good. It is obviously a long time coming, but it is definitely progress.

“It might deter people from doing it if they start issuing longer sentences.

“That is the reason it is such a big problem, because they never get the sentences or punishment that match the crime they have done.

“For us, for people it has happened to, it is no time at all that they are getting at the moment.

“If getting longer sentences gives the family more time to deal with it, then that is a good thing. It helps knowing they are in jail for longer.”

Mrs Harrison also spoke of the frustrations faced by police when soft sentences were handed down.

“Police do all that hard work,” she said. “With my mum, there were so many witnesses and so much CCTV footage. They had got all that done and then they got issued with a sentence like that.

“Over a year’s worth of police work had gone into the case. All the manpower and hard work, for them then to get a poor sentence.

“We were warned about not focusing on the sentence because they said it would not be as much as we would want.”

She added: “It is definitely a step in the right direction. For them to say it is 12 years, 15 years or life, a family would take comfort from that. I know we would have done.

“I believe that the change in sentencing will hopefully have the effect on dangerous drivers that is much needed. Families really don’t get much comfort at all from a six-year sentence, but serve three, especially when it has taken a year for them to be locked up.

“Nobody will realise the upset that these reckless, mindless people cause until it happens to them. Yes, you have to rebuild your life and learn to live without that person, but it doesn’t make that process easy.

“Stronger sentencing will definitely give more comfort to the victims. When it is clear that it was a reckless dangerous act of driving, an appropriate sentence must be passed.

“I feel that this is the change the safety of our roads needs. I would hate for more and more families to have to go through what can only be described as a nightmare that has resulted in a lot of upset.

“I really hope the changes will happen - and it coming before the festive period might deter drink drivers and speeding drivers.”

Judith Cummins, Labour MP for Bradford South, raised the Telegraph & Argus Stop the Danger Drivers campaign in a Parliamentary debate last week about sentencing guidelines for dangerous driving.

She also welcomed the Government plans, and said: “The law has to keep pace with society, which is why I backed Stop the Danger Drivers campaign. I understand that this consultation will examine several key areas, such as the possibility of life sentences being available to those found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving, or whilst under the influence of drink or drugs.

“The longest sentence available to the courts is currently 14 years in prison, which I consider too short. I welcome the consultation and I will continue to campaign for the shift towards harsher sentences for dangerous drivers.”

Bradford West Labour MP Naz Shah said: “I absolutely welcome any change that punishes drivers for being irresponsible.

“Stronger sentences are definitely needed and I think it has been a long time coming.”

She added: “I value anything that becomes a deterrent and sends a clear message that every life matters. We have a responsibility to get rid of bad driving. We have to shift that culture of bad driving.”

She added: “It is not good enough to say you were reckless or careless and someone died, then just get a two-year sentence. There have been sentences that were absolutely appalling. The families have to live with that and that is absolutely atrocious.”

MORE STOP THE DANGER DRIVERS STORIES