Alexine died after an accident on the A47 in Norfolk

Alexine Melnik, 17, of Rushden, Northants, died after an accident on the A47 in Norfolk on her way home from a pop concert last June.

The driver, who admitted careless driving, was fined �500 and given nine points on his licence.

Her father, Peter Melnik, took his campaign for tougher sentences to the House of Commons.

Mr Melnik, who says he is determined Alexine will not have died in vain, was addressing an all-party meeting at Westminster.

Changes in the law

He said the campaign was not about retribution.

"It's about people being held accountable for their actions. I placed my trust in the law to deal with the situation," he said.

"We expected the law to protect our daughter's rights - it clearly didn't happen and that's what stung my family into action."

Under current laws, even if someone dies, drivers cannot be jailed if charged with careless driving.

The government is planning changes in its new Road Safety Bill but the charity, Brake, says the proposed changes do not go far enough.

The charity wants the word "careless" to go. Instead it is campaigning for all bad driving that kills to be deemed dangerous, with higher maximum sentences.

In cases where the victim survives, it wants a new charge of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.