The widow of a Gloucester man mown down and killed by a disqualified motorcyclist in 2012 has received a national road safety award.
Mandy Stock successfully campaigned for tougher sentences for disqualified drivers who kill and seriously injure after her own tragedy.
Her husband Paul was killed by disqualified motorcyclist Graham Godwin, who was sentenced to just 18 months in jail – the maximum term then afforded to judges.
Mandy's campaigning since then has seen the maximum sentence increased dramatically to 10 years.
She was presented with the Campaigner of the Year Award by road safety charity Brake at its annual reception at the Houses of Parliament this week.
Mandy said: "I am delighted to receive this award, which was totally unexpected.
"I am thankful for those who have helped and supported me, especially my brilliant sister, Sue. The law failed us, and it was obvious to us that the law had to change.
"Thankfully, the people in a position to change things listened, and steps have been taken to close a massive loophole and tackle disqualified repeat offenders like the one who killed my husband.
"However, we are still campaigning to increase penalties for driving while disqualified.
"We need to ensure these offenders are taken off the road before they kill or injure innocent victims, to make the roads safer for everyone."
Paul, then 53, was killed while walking near his Tredworth home when he was hit by disqualified motorcyclist Godwin. Godwin was speeding, had falsely insured his motorcycle, and was a serial offender with 12 previous convictions for driving without insurance, nine for driving while disqualified and three for drink-driving. The judge who sentenced him called him "an absolute menace" but was hamstrung in his maximum sentence because Godwin pleaded guilty.
Mandy was appalled by the sentence, and immediately started campaigning for a change in the law, echoing the views of Brake, which argued disqualified, unlicensed and uninsured drivers should automatically be considered 'dangerous' in the eyes of the law.
Mandy launched two online petitions and wrote open letters in the press, soon securing the support of Gloucester MP Richard Graham. Mr Graham was named as one of two Parliamentarians of the Year for 2014 by the charity for his role in the law change.
Justice Secretary Chris Grayling and Prime Minister David Cameron were both receptive to her campaign.
Finally, in May 2014, Mr Grayling announced the maximum sentence for causing death by driving while disqualified will rise to 10 years, with a maximum of four years for causing serious injuries. The Justice Secretary also announced a wider review of driving offences, which is ongoing.
Ed Morrow, campaigns officer for Brake, said: "The change in the law announced in May is a testament to the hard work and determination Mandy has shown in fighting this injustice after the tragic death of her husband.
"Disqualified drivers have no right to be on the road; if they kill or injure someone, it inflicts needless devastation as the result of a deliberate and illegal choice, and the penalty must reflect that. That's why tackling woefully inadequate sentences for these selfish individuals has been a cornerstone of Brake's crackdown campaign."
