There is a lot of sound common sense in the views on the sentencing of reckless young drivers expressed today by Judge Jonathan Durham Hall, who has added his considerable experience and authority to our Be Safe Not Sorry campaign.

Judge Durham Hall knows what he's talking about. He regularly has to hear dangerous-driving cases in which young people, usually men aged between 18 and 20, have driven very badly and caused death or serious injury. He understands the pain they can cause to their victims and the grief they can bring to families.

It is understandable that Judge Durham Hall feels frustrated at the apparent absence of any effective way of protecting the public from what he describes as "a minority of drivers who have no regard for human life". The sentences available to judges tie their hands.

It seems wrong, for example, that while somebody driving in a mildly dangerous sort of way and killing someone as a result can now, quite rightly, be sentenced to up to 14 years in prison, a driver who maims someone while driving (in the judge's words) "like a lunatic" can only be jailed for up to two years. And even that can be reduced if the defendant pleads guilty.

Judge Durham Hall's wants the age for driving to be increased to 18 and measures to be introduced to prevent young men driving high-powered cars. And he calls for the matter of sentences available to judges in dangerous-driving cases to be addressed urgently. These proposals would certainly make the roads safer. They should be taken on board by the Government as soon as possible.