As the board discussed one particularly horrific accident in Perthshire earlier this year, Mr Vine commented, “I was reading about the increase in people murdered in knife crime today, but no one ever mentions the fact that double the number of people are killed on Scotland’s roads every year.

“There is a thing about road crime — people are very forgiving of it because there seems to be a feeling of ‘there but for the grace of God go I’ and that’s part of the problem.

“The ACPOS position on young drivers is going to be formulated at the next meeting and I’ve asked all the forces to come forward with views on what to do about young drivers.

“Overseas there are a number of restrictions, but we don’t really have a position in this country.

“I’d like ACPOS to have a consensus position on this issue without penalising people who drive responsibly.

“The statistics show young people are far more likely to have a serious or fatal road accident.”

Among the suggestions put forward were a restriction on the engine size available to young drivers and bans on carrying passengers or driving at night.

Mr Vine said, “What I want to achieve is a position paper with consensus, in the same way we have on drink-driving, where we have argued for a reduction in the limit from 80 microgrammes to 50 and random testing.”

Councillor Neil Powrie stated, “Speed and reckless driving and showing off to friends is involved.

“I really think it’s about time legislation is introduced to address that particular problem, which seems to be getting worse. The penalties meted out by the courts for dangerous and high speeds leave me appalled that people are allowed to keep their licences or get them handed back after 18 months or two years — I would stop them driving for the rest of their lives.”

Mr Vine said a possible roll-out of the “Safe Drive, Stay Alive” programme — in which emergency workers and accident victims and their families speak to youngsters — is being considered if dates and venues can be organised.