THE mother of a girl killed by a lorry driver on his phone has welcomed new tougher penalties.

Kate Goldsmith's 11-year-old daughter Aimee was killed when Tomasz Kroker, scrolling through music on his phone, ploughed into the back of the car she was in at 50mph.

A dash cam video showed him oblivious of the danger until it was too late.

Aimee's step-brothers Ethan and Josh Houghton, 13 and 11, and their mum Tracy, 45, were also killed in the crash on the A34 near West Ilsley on August 10.

Kroker pleaded guilty to four counts of causing death by dangerous driving and one count of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and was jailed for ten years. He was also disqualified from driving for seven years.

Today Ms Goldsmith welcomed new tougher penalties which mean drivers caught using their phone at the wheel will get six points on their licence and a £200 fine, double the previous penalty.

She said: “My family and I welcome the change in the law, which brings harsher penalties for the use of mobile phones while driving.

"However, our view remains that these measures do not yet go far enough to discourage drivers from this irresponsible practice, which is often considered by many as only a soft bending-of-the-rules of driving.

"We will continue to support campaigning for further changes in the law until we see a definitive shift in cultural behaviour; when all UK citizens believe the use of mobiles while driving is no longer socially acceptable; when they will also stand by, and act upon, those words responsibly.

"The lives of our children, family and friends depend upon us making this commitment to obey the law."