New measures to improve road safety around the Island's schools following the road death of six-year-old Tyaisha Cox last summer have been announced by Government.

They come from recommendations from a technical committee set up after Tyaisha was struck by a car while crossing the road outside the Purvis Primary School in Warwick on her way to summer camp.

Transport Minister Ewart Brown said: "The circumstances surrounding Tyaisha's untimely death saw the need for a comprehensive review, not just of the safety of the Purvis School zone, but of the overall safety of all of Government's school zones."

Recommendations include:

Proposed creation of 'school zones' with lower speed limits;

improved road markings and better signage;

encouraging caution among the driving public in these zones;

applying anti-skid coatings to road surfaces approaching bus stops;

building elevated crosswalks;

building sidewalks at bus stops at schools where none currently exist.

Public Transport Board Director Dan Simmons said in the summer high intensity orange lights for doors and the rear of buses will arrive on the Island.

"They should be seen above cars and trucks, they will be the first warning that passengers are getting on and off buses."

Dr. Brown said timetabling and cost of the measures would depend on the schedule of the Works and Engineering Department.

Works and Engineering Minster Ashfield DeVent said: "Works and Engineering are working on a set of initiatives which will hopefully make all of the cross walks much safer and identify some areas where there will be no overtaking of buses.

"Cost is not an issue when we are talking about human life."

Dr. Brown added: "The loss of life last year on Bermuda's roads saw one of the highest numbers of fatalities we have seen in the last few years ? ten people to be exact, compared to two deaths in 2002."

He called for motorists to slow down and exercise caution to curb loss of life.

Dr. Brown advised people not to cross in front of a bus in order to cut down on accidents.

"Tyaisha's death was not in vain, and today in earnest, we have begun the process to safeguard our children as they use our Island's roads.

"It's too late for her and we regret that. But it's even worse if you have tragedy and do nothing. And if you have multiple other tragedies then you are in the realms of gross negligence.

"We have a culture of speed and in some cases of negligence on the road. We continue to fight back.

He said a large corporate donor had chipped in $50,000 for the Road Safety Council to step up its public education efforts, even before the Tyaisha death.

Dr. Brown said: "We have already started with the adverts you see on TV about seatbelts."