The island’s Catholic Church has thrown its weight behind The Royal Gazette’s Drive for Change road safety campaign.

Bishop Wieslaw Spiewak issued a message of support for the campaign in a weekly Bishop’s Corner bulletin and asked Catholics to join in its efforts.

He said: “Between increasing numbers of those being killed or injured and the number of families who are impacted by these injuries and deaths, we clearly have a serious problem with reckless driving here in Bermuda.

“The Royal Gazette has put into action a special campaign regarding road safety and I would ask all the members of our diocese to join them in this project.”

Bishop Spiewak added that road users must have “sober awareness of what is happening at all times.”

He added that excessive speed lead to “anarchy and chaos” on the roads and that texting while driving is a major factor for increased risk of a crash.

Bishop Spiewak also singled out a failure to obey road signs, risky overtaking and drink driving as major risks.

He said: “Driving over the speed limit and ignoring road signs, risky overtaking, texting and driving, driving while under the influence of alcohol are all dangerous, illegal actions and, I am sorry, but also very stupid.”

Bishop Spiewak added: “Care for yourselves and for others, and drive safely.”

The Drive for Change campaign has gained momentum with several organisations signed up in support.

These include campaign official partners A Piece of the Rock as well as the Bermuda Police Service, the Bermuda Road Safety Council, anti-alcohol abuse charity CADA, doctors and emergency medical technicians. Sol Petroleum has just partnered with The Royal Gazette for an educational film and feature series and car supplier Auto Solutions created a safe driving pledge wall for its customers to sign.

• For more information about the campaign visit driveforchange.rg.bm and click on “Be The Change”