Previous Police crackdowns of dangerous and drunken driving have had some success although the number of deaths on the roads has fluctuated wildly.

Last year, there were just two deaths on the Island's roads - the lowest since 1962 - compared to 11 the previous year.

And the numbers of drink drivers fell by almost ten percent in 2002 to 323.

There seems to be no obvious pattern or trend to road fatalities which means it is hard to discern what affect public safety campaigns are having.

The number of deaths on the roads in 1990 were 13. In 1991 it was 5, 1992 (6), 1993 (7), 1994 (11), 1995 (7),1996 (4), 1997 (7), 1998 (17), 1999 (10), 2000 (6), 2001 (11), 2002 (2), and nine so far this year.

Project Ride, run by Bermuda Road Safety Council, teaches youngsters ready to pass their bike tests for the first time basic road safety lessons.

Each year around 1000 young Bermudians turn 16 and are eligible to ride scooters. Last year, 600 of them took the 12 hour Project Ride course, which is held at Transport Control Department (TCD) and in schools.

But it is only a voluntary scheme, and Road Safety Council president Dr. Joseph Froncioni believes the scheme should be a part of the school curriculum.

From time to time Police have launched crackdowns on specific driving offences. For example, in January last year the Traffic Unit had a two month initiative targeting drink drivers, people who overtake dangerously, and those with faulty vehicle lights.

TCD director Kevin Monkman, who sits on the Bermuda Road Safety Council, believes the educational programmes have had a beneficial effect, particularly when it comes to drink driving.

Referring to Project Ride, Mr. Monkman said: "The aim is to ensure that young people getting a licence for the first time are competent to drive, that they have the skills, background and training necessary for them to be safe on the roads.

"Also, we provide educational information for them on proper behaviour on the road with the aim that through time, we will have a group of roads users coming along who have better road manners.

"It gives the students the opportunity to get some experience of riding a cycle through simulated driving conditions. When I got my licence for an auxiliary cycle in the mid-70's, all you had to do was ride in a straight line and turn back .

"I think Road Safety Council initiatives that are in the works and those currently have an impact because we have a greater awareness of drink driving.

"My own children, who are aged 19 and 22, and their friends are aware of the dangers of drink driving.

"When they go out into town with their friends, they either take a taxi or someone will drop them off, or someone will pick them up to take them home, so there is no temptation to drink and drive.

" So from personal experience, it does have an impact. although obviously not all people are affected in the same way as you still get people arrested for drink driving. I think, the figures show the majority, though are older people."

Inspector Terry Spencer of the Police Traffic Unit did not respond to requests for an interview to discuss Police initiatives.