One girl lost her life and another was paralysed in a senseless and tragic crash.

Harry Smith, then 17, had only passed his test seven weeks before he was involved in the fatal crash.

He had already been stopped by police on a number of occasions and had been issued with his final warning – but it was one warning too many and it begs the question – why was he allowed to stay on the road?

Youths at the wheel too often conform to the “boy racer” stereotype and put themselves, their passengers and other road users at risk.

We all know what it feels like to be young and invincible but incidents like this hit home hard and show how obviously foolish this mindset is.

Young drivers are statistically the most at risk on the roads and they need to ensure they take responsibility for their vehicles.

When you are at the wheel of the car it is up to you to ensure the safety of yourself and others on the road – keeping safe is much more important than irresponsible showboating.