THE father of an Oxfordshire teenager killed by a dangerous driver has said he will not rest until there are stricter penalties for motorists caught using mobile phones.

Paul Baker’s daughter Liberty died when she was hit by a car driven by Robert Blackwell in June 2014.

Blackwell, who was jailed for four years after admitting causing death by dangerous driving, received a text message moments before his car mounted a kerb in Curbridge Road in Witney and hit Liberty, 14.

Mr Baker has since campaigned for longer sentences for dangerous drivers and now wants to see tougher sanctions for motorists using phones.

It comes as research from the RAC found 31 per cent of people said they had used a mobile phone to make a call while driving.

Mr Baker said: “I do not want any family to go through this.

“One unimportant phone call or text message could cost somebody their life.

“We are in a situation where it seems to be socially acceptable to use a phone while driving, where it should be seen as anti-social.

“The current penalties are just an inconvenience, not a deterrent.”

A driver caught using a hand-held phone is automatically punished with three penalty points on their licence and a fine of £100.

In theory they could be disqualified from driving and get a fine up to £1,000.

Mr Baker said: “The fines should be much higher, maybe around £500 and they should double the number of points to six.

“Using a phone is like driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol and there should be harsher sentences.

“The courts should be looking at driving bans and jail sentences.”

The RAC survey also found almost half of drivers had used a phone while sitting in stationary traffic

But 41 per cent also said their biggest safety concern was other drivers using mobiles.

Earlier in the year Mr Baker met with Department for Transport parliamentary under secretary of state Andrew Jones to discuss tougher sentences on drivers who kill or injure people while behind the wheel.

He said he will keep lobbying MPs and ministers until the law was changed.

He said: “There should be at least 10 years in prison for someone who kills because of dangerous driving, as well as a lifetime driving ban.

“It would be a deterrent as well as justice”

“Other families in a similar situation to ours are backing our campaign and we are not going to rest until we get it sorted.

“We will keep putting pressure on the Government until it is.”