Senators passed legislation to increase the size of cars on Wednesday.

The Senate heard that The Motor Car Amendment Act allows the increase in the dimensions of private cars, private light trucks, light trucks and intermediate trucks as well as creates a new class of car.

The bill states that the maximum length of private light trucks and light trucks will be increased from 169 inches to 175 inches. The maximum width of these trucks will be increased from 67 inches to 71 inches and the maximum gross vehicle weight, of light trucks is being increased from 5,500 pounds to 7,000 pounds.

The maximum length of intermediate trucks will be increased from 180 inches long to 190 inches. The maximum width will be increased from 71 inches to 74 inches, and the gross vehicle weight will be increased from 9,000 pounds to 12,000 pounds.

The new class of car will be longer than 169 inches but no more than 175 inches and will have an annual license fee of $1,365.10.

Attorney General Larry Mussenden pointed out that parents with several children had expressed their concerns regarding a lack of room in their cars and not enough seatbelts for each passenger.

Sen. Mussenden also said that the number of cars available to the consumer has been reduced.

UBP Senator Leonard Santucci said he supported the bill but that he has some concern regarding the safety of Bermuda?s roads.

He pointed out that while the size of cars are becoming bigger, the size of the roads are remaining the same.

Sen. Santucci encouraged the public to be careful on Bermuda?s roads.

PLP Senator Walter Roban said that the reason changes were being made to the size of vehicles is because the market is changing and vehicles need to be replaced because they are wearing out.

UBP Senator Kim Swan gave an impassioned opinion of the legislation and said that he supports the bill however, his concerns lie with the environment and public safety.

?Traffic congestion is ever so much a problem ? you try walking on the roads ? it is becoming dangerous,? he said.

Sen. Swan said: ?We are chipping away a little bit at our quality of life.

?There are examples were larger cars are necessary and examples were they are not.?

Sen. Swan also raised concerns about a large number of Bermudians going out and buying bigger cars when they do not need them.

?Bermuda is a very materialistic country.? he said.

PLP Senator Neville Tyrell said that he did not believe everyone would go out and get a bigger car just because they were allowed to.

Independent Senator Walwyn Hughes was not happy about the increase in the size of cars.

He expressed concern over whether or not the roads could hold out with the increased weight of the cars.

Senate president Alf Oughton said that the Transport Ministry needed to watch the size increase very closely.