Educate young drivers on dangers of speeding before they get behind the wheel, Mr Loophole urges Novice drivers should be educated the "hard way" about the consequences of speeding before they are given their licences, one of the country's leading criminal lawyers has said.

While broadly welcoming a Home Office announcement that the minimum sentence for dangerous driving was to be doubled, Nick Freeman - aka Mr Loophole - said there was far more the Government could do to prevent further deaths and injury, particularly in relation to newly qualified drivers.  Mr Freeman said:

"In the last two weeks I have been asked to defend three young people, all charged with death by dangerous driving."

While increasing the sentence of those convicted of dangerous driving to a maximum of five years is a step in the right direction, I think the Government needs to review the driving test.  He went on to say:

"How many people who have just passed their test are actually skilled enough to be let loose behind the wheel? I'd wager very few. The test needs to be far more rigorous. Learner drivers should be shown graphic details of what can happen if a car loses control at high speed. They should hear from those who have suffered as a result.

"Learners should also be given a lesson on a skid pan and lessons on motorway driving which should also feature as part of the test. In other words, the process should not just be punitive but also educational."

Mr Freeman also added the Government should use the expertise of those at the "coal face" when it comes to advising on policy change, such as the proposed review of drink-driving legislation.

"I'm sure the people they get to head these reviews are highly intelligent individuals, but what recent courtroom experience have they actually had? On more than one occasion I have said I'd be happy to advise the Government on helping make the roads safer, but as yet they haven't responded to my offer."