hardship

Although much of Yoakam’s most celebrated work has centered on classic country themes such as hardship, heartache, loneliness and drifting, “Brighter Days” demonstrates considerable joy.

His successor Ranil Wickremesinghe managed to negotiate a bailout package worth $3bn with the International Monetary Fund - but many Sri Lankans continue to feel economic hardship.

But people can also try to convince a court a ban would result in exceptional hardship, which could lead to being allowed to drive despite having wracked up 12 points or more.

Nicholas Lyes, director of policy and standards at road safety charity IAM RoadSmart, said the "shocking statistics" called into question the definition of exceptional hardship.

She added people who already have points, or who had escaped a ban based on exceptional hardship, which they cannot apply for on the same grounds more than once in a three-year period, were often "a lot more careful than anybody else on the road".