Dangerous drivers who constantly re-offend can be as much of a blight on society as burglars or drug dealers: ask anyone whose life has been wrecked or has been left bereaved as a result of an accident caused by a criminally-negligent motorist who should not have been on the road.

So it does seem strange that while burglars and dealers have minimum sentences for ‘third strike’ offences, no similar sentencing option is available for persistently dangerous drivers.

Which is why we welcome the comments of Judge Jonathan Durham Hall who has called for a new offence of aggravated dangerous driving which could be used when a culprit is back before a court for a third dangerous driving offence.

He spoke out when a serial motoring offender came before him facing his fifth charge of dangerous driving. The judge was rightly frustrated that the current law only allows a maximum two-year sentence for dangerous driving.

It is not surprising that he describes this as ‘woefully inadequate’. Persistent dangerous drivers continue to put far too many lives at risk and, if they insist on breaking the law consistently, the courts must be given tougher powers to punish them.

Justice Secretary Ken Clarke recognises the strong feelings there are on this and told us he is looking into the issue.

Let us hope he takes notice of the frustration of Judge Durham Hall and acts sooner rather than later to increase the sentencing powers available to deal with those who wreak havoc and wreck lives on our roads.