Ms Houghton's boyfriend's daughter Aimee Goldsmith, 11, also died
Tomasz Kroker, 30, smashed into their car while scrolling through music
Josh and Ethan's father Douglas Houghton has called for life sentences
The father of two young boys killed by a driver distracted by his mobile, says he is dreading Christmas.
Brothers Josh and Ethan Houghton, 11 and 13, died alongside their mother Tracy Houghton, 45, and her boyfriend's daughter Aimee Goldsmith, 11, when lorry driver Tomasz Kroker, 30, smashed into their car as he scrolled through music.
The boys' grief-stricken father Douglas Houghton has admitted December will be an especially difficult month as it marks the first Christmas without his sons and Ethan's 14th birthday.
Mr Houghton has also called for drivers who cause death to face life sentences.
Douglas Houghton (up) lost his sons and ex-wife when lorry driver Tomasz Kroker, 30, (down) smashed into their car on the A34 near Newbury on August 10
Tracy Houghton with Ethan and Josh Houghton, and Aimee and Jake Goldsmith
Mr Houghton told Sky News: 'My eldest one would have been 14 on the 23rd of December, so, I mean...it's never going to be the same again, Christmas , is it?
'I'm not even looking forward to this month at all.'
On August 10, lorry driver Tomasz Kroker, 30, caused the fatality as he scrolled through music while driving along the A34 near Newbury.
He ploughed into a Mazda driven by Adam Pearson, who tried to drive to the side of the road when he saw the vehicle hurtling towards him at 50mph.
But his car was thrown upside down onto the embankment, and he was later rushed to hospital with a torn aorta artery, collapsed lung, lacerated liver and broken back.
Kroker’s lorry then smashed through a Citroen, injuring the two occupants, before plunging into a Vauxhall Zafira carrying Mark Goldsmith and his 13-year-old son Jake.
Their car was shunted into a Vauxhall Corsa in front, driven by Mr Goldsmith's partner Tracy Houghton with her sons Ethan and Josh and Aimee Goldsmith – his daughter and Jake’s sister.
A court heard their Corsa was forced underneath a lorry and crushed to 'a third of its natural size.'
The family, from Bedfordshire, were driving back from a camping trip and all died instantly in the horrifying crash.
Mr Goldsmith and his son Jake were left with life-changing injuries and witnessed as the car carrying 11-year-old Aimee was crushed.
Kroker, from Andover, Hampshire, admitted four counts of causing death by dangerous driving and one count of causing serious injury by dangerous driving at Reading Crown Court on October 10 and was jailed for ten years.
Calling for stricter sentences, Douglas Houghton added: 'It should be life for life I suppose shouldn't it, really.
'If you're not paying attention and someone steps out in front of you and you're looking at your phone, what's going to happen - you're going to kill them, instantly, aren't you?
'Because you're driving a vehicle that is deadly in the wrong hands.'
Drivers who kill while using a mobile phone behind the wheel will face life in prison under a tough new crackdown by the Government.
Under the proposals, the punishment for motorists who cause death while making calls, texting or checking social media will be brought into line with manslaughter.
It is part of a drive by ministers to make so-called ‘text-driving’ as socially unacceptable as drink-driving.
Dashcam footage from Kroker's lorry cab shows him distracted by his mobile phone for between seven and 45 seconds before the fatal crash
Motorists who are speeding or under the influence of alcohol or drugs when there is a fatal accident could also be jailed for life.
In a major hardening of sentencing guidelines, the maximum sentence for causing death by dangerous or careless driving will rise from 14 years. The average sentence imposed on killer drivers is currently less than four years.
Road safety campaigners hailed the plans as a ‘vindication’ of their work but said ministers should go further. The RAC has warned that there is an ‘epidemic’ of drivers texting, calling or checking emails at the wheel.
Unveiling the plans, Justice Minister Sam Gyimah said: ‘Killer drivers ruin lives. Their actions cause immeasurable pain to families, who must endure tragic, unnecessary losses.
‘While impossible to compensate for the death of a loved one, we are determined to make sure the punishment fits the crime. My message is clear – if you drive dangerously and kill on our roads, you could face a life sentence.’
Recent research has showed that a third of motorists have used a hand-held phone to make a call while driving.
Gary Rae, campaigns director for road safety charity Brake, said: ‘This is a vindication of our efforts, and those of victims’ families, calling for change. For too long the justice system has treated them as second-class citizens.’
He said ministers should go further and scrap the lesser charge of careless driving. He said: ‘Some of the strongest feedback we have received from the families is that there is nothing careless about taking someone else’s life.’
The move comes after Transport Secretary Chris Grayling announced the punishment for illegally using a phone in the driving seat would double from three points to six. The ‘two strikes’ policy will mean drivers hit the 12-point threshold for an automatic ban after two offences instead of four.
Fines for using a hand-held device while driving will rise from £100 to £200 under the shake-up unveiled by the Department for Transport (Dft).
Young motorists with less than two years on the road would have their licence revoked after being caught just once.
