January 4, 2015

Dear Sir,

In 1961 when I arrived in Bermuda, ALL bikes had to have license plates front and back. Then the bike liveries complained that it was too hard to fit the front license on the Mobylettes (the popular bike of choice) with the wicker basket in front and the headlight just below. So the law was changed to just require the back license plate. With the popular scooter configuration now, I think the liveries and Government could easily come up with an arrangement so that front plates could be installed on ALL bikes again without too much trouble.

Why would this help? Then Bermuda could use moveable speed cameras that capture a photo of the license plate and face of the driver and can issue a speeding ticket right then and there through the mail. This is not new technology and has been used worldwide for decades. Bikes and cars would now be able to be captured equally in the camera. Just knowing that you might be in a speed camera site may be enough to slow most drivers down. Especially when they find themselves off the road for some months. If some find the cost of the fines too high perhaps some community service (like hand weeding a 50 foot square at the Botanical Gardens or school yard) could be arranged.

Anyway, I think it is time to write some legislation to enable the use of speed cameras in an attempt to slow bikers and cars down and lower road deaths. The Police, for all their good efforts, are ineffectual controlling speeding on the road. The cameras may save a life or two but it certainly will make driving more pleasant for those of us who are trying to drive safely, and have to put up with drivers weaving in and out and dangerous passing.

Please begin a debate on the use of speed cameras and get a programme going now. At lease it would be doing something instead of just saying ‘please don’t speed’.

MIDDLE ROAD

PAGET