THE sister of a cyclist killed in a car crash hopes a life sentence will act as a deterrent to drivers to take more care on the roads.

Terry Brown, 47, died after he was knocked down while cycling along Warrington Road, Bold Heath, on February 18, 2014.

While his loved ones are enduring a life sentence without the dad-of-three, from Great Sankey, his killer was sentenced to seven years in prison.

But now drivers who kill someone in the most serious cases of dangerous and careless driving will face life sentences.

His sister Nicola Keatley, 45, who has been active in campaigning for change, said: “I was really pleased.

“It is ridiculous at the moment. At the end of the day they are behind the wheel of a car and it could be a killing machine.”

Causing death by dangerous driving, or death by careless driving while drunk or on drugs, will now carry lengthy sentences.

Announcing the change, justice minister Dominic Raab said: “Based on the seriousness of the worst cases, the anguish of the victims’ families, and maximum penalties for other serious offences such as manslaughter, we intend to introduce life sentences of imprisonment for those who wreck lives by driving dangerously, drunk or high on drugs.”

A new offence of causing serious injury through careless driving is also to be created.

Three years on from her brother’s death, Nicola opened up about the never-ending heartache.

She said: “It never gets any easier. You learn to live with it but none of us will ever be the same following what happened.

“Life is different. It’s almost like you relate to things before Terry died and since Terry died.

“I still think there is more that needs to done with the roads. At the moment they just have a coloured bit of tarmac for cyclists. It’s not enough.

“There is no chance I would get on my bike on the road after what’s happened.”