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.

His mother, Karen Strong, spoke out about the devastating consequences of drink driving before Christmas, in a bid to make any motorists tempted to take the risk think again. Now Jamie’s 13-year-old sister, Rebecca, has started an online petition calling for ‘zero tolerance’ on the issue in the UK.

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 were outraged after learning 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: “The guy who ran my brother over didn’t lose his driving licence until eight months afterwards, and didn’t go to prison for nine months. I believe he should have been tried for manslaughter. 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 severe 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.”

Mrs Strong told this newspaper in December she believed no-one should “have even one drink and get behind the wheel”.

Jamie, a student at St Mary’s School, Menston, was hit by McRae’s Vauxhall Corsa while he was crossing Boroughgate. Rebecca’s petition can be seen at: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/zero---tolerence-for-drink-drivers-in-the-uk/