Young drivers are always getting a raw deal argues Sabina Patel Asian Images newest columnist.

Is penalising newly qualified motorists by confiscating their licence really going to make a big difference?

Mention driving to people and chances are, it will conjure images of speed cameras, out-of-sight patrol vehicles and stress.

I know it does for me. I can remember getting my licence - the examiner seemed mortified she was giving it to me. I cant have been that bad though, I passed didnt I?

Having said that, I know plenty of people with a licence who in my eyes just arent up to the job (you know who you are). Dont get me wrong, Im no instructor and Im no angel on the roads either.

Put me behind a steering wheel and chances are, my usually well-mannered self will be transformed into a raging hooligan. And Ill bet Im not the only one either.

I was surprised then that new drivers receiving more than six penalty points within their first two years of driving would be automatically disqualified.

This to me sounds unfair. After all, it seems so easy to clock-up those points. Get caught talking on your phone? Thatll be three points for you. Get caught doing 33mph in a 30 mph zone? Well done, thatll be another three points.

On a really bad day, you can even get three points slapped onto your licence if caught running a red light. Even inconsiderate driving, whatever that may be defined as, holds a penalty of up to nine points.

But surely all drivers, both young and old are at fault. Then why are we, as young drivers being targeted? I dont even know why it comes as a surprise we always seem to suffer the brunt of everyones faults.

To get a more comprehensive picture, I did a Google search of young drivers and the risks we pose. However, everything I found pertained to our ability to cause accidents.

17-25 year olds hold just 10% of UK driving licences, but we cause over 20% of car accidents. Implicated especially in this are male drivers under the age of 25, as they cause more serious and fatal accidents of any age group.

Im sure we can all recall the fatal accidents of not-so-long ago that claimed the lives of valued members of our community.

However, this wasnt the first accident of its sort and it definitely will not be the last.

Every week you hear of people being involved in collisions caused through excessive speeds, and nine times out of 10, those involved will be male and under the age of 25 years.

We just dont seem to learn.

So we still need to learn a thing or two about being behind the wheel. How is slapping us with points and revoking our licence going to make us better drivers?

I might be slightly empathetic if these penalty points gauged an individuals ability to drive but the fact of the matter is, they have very little to do with your ability to control your car, relating instead more to how you choose to behave once behind the wheel. Or is there a difference?

Talking on the phone carries a penalty of three points, whilst changing the music or having something to eat whilst behind the wheel can go unnoticed. Which is more dangerous? Which one increases the likelihood of an accident?

It all boils down to the fact that a driving license should be a very precious and much guarded possession, and one that we should try to hold on to at all costs.

Would it really hurt to obey the rules of the road every once in a while?

So you may have to leave that little bit earlier to reach your destination. Is that really such a big deal?

Would you really compromise your image that much if you actually stopped at a red light? Why dont we all try it?

At least you will live to tell the tale.