A health chief has made a controversial call for the legal driving age to be raised from 17 to 21 after recent revelations concerning the number of youngsters killed on the road.
Commenting on figures showing that the death rate among young drivers has more than doubled in the last five years, Dr Paul Walker, chairman of the Welsh Public Health Association, said, "Greater maturity is known to curb risky behaviour, particularly among boys."
Talking about his proposal to raise the age limit, he added, "Such measures could be introduced relatively quickly with political will but the real challenge is to try to change the attitudes to driving generally by increasing the availability of good public transport and by making it less attractive to own a car either by increased motor taxation or by increased taxation on fuel.
"The car insurance companies already make it very difficult for youngsters to obtain cover and this is to be encouraged."
Dr Walker's comments are sure to arouse feeling among youngsters, who often rely on a car as their only means to a degree of freedom while still living at home. Young driver car insurance is one of the most expensive hurdles to learning to drive, and teenagers will despair of it being increased as the health chief suggests.
Specialist online motor insurance firms targeting youngsters have sprung up in the last few years and are battling against the odds to offer cheap car insurance to their customers. Such firms will be disappointed to hear Walker's comments, with most more in favour of cutting the road death toll by education and information, instead of a ban punishing everybody for the failings of a few.
The debate is one that is destined to rage for a long time to come.