THE MUM of a teenager killed by a speeding drink-driver has backed the Telegraph & Argus Stop The Danger Drivers campaign - as an MP prepares for a parliamentary debate on a law change to protect victims of criminal driving.

Karen Strong's 16-year-old son Jamie Still died after being hit by a car driven by Max McRae in Otley on New Year's Eve in 2010. McRae, who was nearly twice the drink-drive limit and travelling at about 50mph in a 30 zone at the time of the collision, was jailed for four years in September 2011.

At the time, Karen said McRae should have received a much tougher sentence, and called for an overhaul of the law.

Now, she and her 17-year-old daughter, Rebecca Still, are backing Greg Mulholland's Criminal Driving (Justice for Victims) Bill, which is being presented in the House of Commons today, and the T&A campaign. Mr Mulholland has also backed our campaign.

"Everything that we can all pull together to make things different, either as a deterrent or to stop families suffering in the aftermath, is a good thing," said Karen, 42.

"Stronger sentences are needed. We have had a life sentence and he got two years for killing someone. If any other weapon had been used, other than a car, it would have been a stronger sentence. Why should the car be treated differently?"

She added: "It is disgusting how families are treated afterwards. They have already gone through the most traumatic experience of their lives, then to see no justice at all. If Jamie had been killed any other way, we would have had Victim Support on our doorstep the next morning."

Mr Mulholland said: "I welcome the Stop The Danger Drivers campaign by the Telegraph & Argus. They are right to highlight the injustice felt by many families when criminal drivers do not get an appropriate sentence.

"This needs to be urgently looked at, potential offenders must be deterred and families must have their faith in our justice system restored. That's what my Criminal Driving Bill aims to do and I am pleased to have support from the Telegraph & Argus."

Rebecca started an online petition when she was 13, calling for an automatic ban for those awaiting trial for drinking and driving offences. She collected 13,000 signatures and presented the petition to Downing Street in 2013.

Mr Mulholland, who represents Leeds North West, has been a long time campaigner for better justice for victims of road crime. The Bill will seek to strengthen penalties related to serious criminal driving offences that lead to serious injury or death, re-define such offences and amend bail conditions for those charged with them, and also to enhance the standards of investigation, both by the police and in the courts, into such offences. It will also demand improving the treatment of victims of criminal driving offences and their families within the justice system.

"For far too long, victims and their families have been let down by the justice system," said Mr Mulholland. "Sentences can be too short, bail conditions for offenders not strong enough and investigators sometimes not suitably trained. Victims and their families are right to expect more from the justice system, and my Bill will continue the fight for that."

Rebecca said: "After many years of hard campaigning for these changes, and in that time seeing so many further tragic cases, I am pleased Greg has managed to get this Bill into the House of Commons and hopefully now we can see some real changes. This might help other families that are in our situation."