A young woman who admitted using her mobile phone whilst driving, today begins a 21 month prison sentance for causing death by dangerous driving and disqualified from driving for three years.
Philippa Curtis, aged 21 from Icklingham in Bury St Edmonds was found guilty of causing the death of Victoria McBryde, in a collison at Wheatly, near Thame, last November.
In a statement issued today, Insp Bill Sykes said:
“On behalf of Thames Valley Police, I would first like to offer our sincere condolences and sympathies to Victoria McBryde?s family and friends. Our thoughts are with them at this difficult time.
“This tragedy has robbed a young woman of her life, a family of their loved one and the life of another young woman will be changed forever. All this was needless and entirely avoidable.
“Using a mobile phone whilst driving, to call or text, is a dangerous distraction and significantly lowers your concentration. As this tragic case shows, driving needs your full attention and using your phone can have horrific consequences.
“The jury has rightly judged that such acts do amount to driving dangerously and that the individual responsible will be held to account for their actions.
“There is no phone call or text message that is so important it can?t wait until you have time to pull over and park in a safe place. For the want of this simple action, a young woman was needlessly killed and now another is serving a prison sentence.
“We would always advise that if you are a driver and you break down, it is best to get out of your vehicle as soon as possible and stand a safe distance away from the road to make any phone calls and wait for help to arrive. You cannot rely on others to be driving safely and paying attention. If you feel unsafe, don?t get back into your car, but rather call the police.
“Far too many people still use their phones whilst driving. Our message to those of you who are tempted to call or text when you should be concentrating on driving is: think about Victoria and don?t.”
Phillipa Curtis,from Suffolk, hit the back of 24-year-old Victoria McBryde’s stationary car on the A40 near Wheatley, Oxfordshire, on November 30, last year.
Miss McBryde had stopped beside the road after puncturing a tyre.
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