A family fighting for a change in the law has launched a website named after the son and brother they lost because of a drink driver.
Otley boy Jamie Still, 16, a student at St Mary’s School, Menston, died after being struck by a car on Boroughgate, Otley, on New Year's Eve, 2010. The driver, Arthington man Max McRae, was found to have been twice over the drink-drive limit and speeding.
But McRae, now serving a four-year jail term, was allowed to keep his driving licence for eight months after the fatal accident.
That is a situation Jamie’s sister, Rebecca Still, and mother, Karen Strong, are determined to change. Rebecca, 13, has started a petition calling on the Government to toughen the law and she and Karen also appeared on television to explain their campaign.
Now they have created a website, www.jamiestillcampaign.co.uk, to make it easier for people to sign the petition and find out more. It says: “Anyone charged with drinking and driving should immediately have their licence removed.”
They hope to generate enough interest to get 100,000 signatures, which would oblige the Government to debate the issue.
Local MP Greg Mulholland (Lib Dem, Leeds North West), supporting the campaign, has called for the law to be changed so that licences are suspended as a bail condition in cases involving death by dangerous or careless driving, or where the driver has been found to have been twice or more over the legal limit.
Prime Minister David Cameron, responding to a question from Mr Mulholland in the House of Commons, has promised to “consider” the change.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here