I WELCOME Philippa Curtis’ conviction for killing Victoria McBryde (Oxford Mail, February 6).

Victoria had her life ahead of her, and the McBrydes merit all our sympathy.

Curtis’s sentence of 21 months’ jail and a three-year ban has caused outrage. They are no recompense for someone’s life. But what sentence would have been? If Curtis served a life sentence it would cost us a fortune in tax without bringing Victoria back.

Driving is a privilege with responsibilities, not a right. Every day I see drivers flouting the law by texting or speaking on a hand-held phone while driving. Plenty of people reading this have broken this law but haven’t yet been caught.

A week ago I saw a driver using a hand-held mobile in busy traffic on the stretch of the A40 where Curtis killed Victoria. I have told the offender’s employer. I expect action against the driver.

Curtis’s killing of Victoria proves how dangerous driving with a hand-held mobile is. How many would claim to agree, but then make an exception for whatever reason?

Curtis is young, as Victoria was. But unlike Victoria she still has her life ahead of her. I hope Curtis accepts her crime, serves her time, learns to be a responsible person and spends her life trying to make the world a safer place. And I hope other mobile phone misusers take this as a final warning.

Hugh Jaeger Oxfordshire Representative British Motorcyclists Federation Oxford