THE daughter of a woman killed on Bradford’s roads has welcomed new legislation that could see life sentences handed to people who cause death by dangerous driving.

Under its new Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, the Government is aiming to amend existing laws to bring in tougher sentences for a range of offences including dangerous driving.

It comes five years after the Telegraph & Argus started the Stop the Danger Drivers campaign, triggering West Yorkshire Police to set up Operation Steerside, cracking down on dangerous and illegal driving.

Ministers have said the new laws are part of the Government’s pledge to “crack down on crime” and “back the police”.

Part of the Bill includes changes to driving offences which lead to death or serious injury.

If passed by MPs, laws will be amended to increase the maximum penalty for causing death by dangerous driving from 14 years to life in prison.

The same change would also be brought in for causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs, and a new offences of causing serious injury by careless driving would also be introduced.

This new offence would have a maximum penalty of two years in prison.

Bradford has tragically seen more than its fair share of tragedy on the district’s roads in recent years, with drivers racing, driving drunk and speeding which has sadly led to the deaths of passengers, other motorists and pedestrians.

Mary Byrne was struck and killed by a speeding car being used for street racing when she got out of her taxi in Mandale Road in 2013.

Thomas Healey was handed six years and Joseph Robinson five years in prison over her death.

Her daughter Sarah Harrison said: “I stick by what I’ve always said that as a family we will never get our mum back.

“The penalty definitely needs to increase, it’s why dangerous driving is such a big issue in Bradford.

“Their short sentences are a second hit to the grief we suffer; it’s like saying that’s how much you mum, who you love, it worth.

“It’s any every day struggle for us, it was her birthday last week and Mother’s Day on Sunday; we will never get to celebrate these again but these men are out now and they can.

“They showed no remorse and still don’t, they need to know taking someone’s life is a big thing.

“When they got in a car and drove 80mph in a 30mph zone they must think, ‘this could go really badly, we could kill ourselves or, more often than not, an innocent person’.

“They need to know there could be a life sentence waiting for them if they take someone’s loved one away, the punishment needs to fit the crime.

“My mum was having the house of her dreams built, with the man she loved new grandchildren, she meant everything to us, and it was all taken away.

“They serve half their sentence and are out on day release with their families. How is that fair? We will never get that again.”

Ms Harrison added that more investment is needed to bring cases to court faster, and that longer sentences are needed to reflect the “painstaking work” done by police and prosecutors in putting a case together.

Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary, Robert Buckland QC said: “This government has pledged to crack down on crime and build safer communities, and we are delivering on that commitment.

“We are giving the police and courts the powers they need to keep our streets safe, while providing greater opportunities for offenders to turn their lives around and better contribute to society.”

Priti Patel, the Home Secretary, added: “I vowed to back the police to cut crime and make our streets safer.

“This Bill delivers on that promise, and enshrines my commitment to those brave officers who put themselves in danger to keep rest of us safe into law.”