Fernando Marino, 33, and Karen McGovern, 31, were hit as they crossed a road in Carlton's restaurant district in August 2011, leaving their two young children orphans.

The driver Kathryn Eliza Matiszak wept in a Victorian County Court dock on Monday as Judge Damian Murphy jailed her for six years.

"Your conduct has resulted in the death of a loving couple, the building block of our society, and left two children orphans," Judge Murphy said.

"Your dangerous driving has destroyed the natural order. Parents should not have to bury their children."

He sentenced her to six years in jail with a minimum of three years and three months and cancelled her licence for four years.

Ms McGovern's father Peter McGovern said the sentence was lenient.

"We've got a life sentence, her kids have a life sentence, nothing's going to bring her back," he said outside court.

"It's not enough. It never will be enough."

The NSW couple from Albion Park were on a weekend trip to Victoria to watch an AFL match when they were killed.

Matiszak, 31, of Keilor pleaded guilty to two counts of dangerous driving causing death.

She was travelling 65km/h in a 50km/h speed zone and the traffic light had been red for six seconds when she drove through the intersection and hit the couple.

Judge Murphy accepted Matiszak was genuinely remorseful for her crime, and said her strong family support and young son would provide incentive for her rehabilitation.

AAP