too dangerous.

A proposed trip by 100 visitors to the Island is already in jeopardy.

Organiser Mr. Edward Whitney said his wife, Mary, brushed with death this week on South Shore.

He said she came within an inch of being struck by a Government truck as she rode her motor bike.

The truck was speeding and being driven in a reckless manner, he claimed.

"She could have been killed.'' Businessman Mr. Whitney, from Wilmington, Massachusetts, complained most local people ignored speed limits.

And he added visitors were virtually powerless to do anything about near accidents.

This was made clear to him when he protested to Police, he claimed.

"Tourists have no defence going for them, unless they want to stay long enough to file a complaint and go through the legal process.'' Mr. Whitney, 56, said he would now fight to scrap the golf trip being organised by Wilmington Rotary Club.

He is on the board of directors of the Rotary Club.

"I think it's getting out of control here. I think it's just too dangerous.'' Mr. Whitney and his 58-year-old friend Mr. Chester Bruce, also from Massachusetts, vowed to raise the problem with travel agents.

They hope to put pressure on Bermuda's Government to make the roads safer.

"I'm going to try and find some accident statistics. I'm sure it's worse now than it was.'' Mr. Whitney said the near miss involving Mrs. Whitney occurred at about 1.30 p.m. on Friday, near Mermaid Beach.

She was riding ahead of him. Mr. Bruce and his wife, Joan, were also with them.

Mr. Whitney claimed the Government dumper truck was travelling at up to 35 m.p.h. as it went past in a reckless manner.

"It swerved into my wife to avoid a head-on collision because a parked truck blocked half our lane.'' He added he experienced similar problems with trucks later that day near the Airport.

And he blamed them on local people ignoring the speed limits.

If something wasn't done, visitors would feel unwelcome, he said.

"These drivers can do what they please and unless the Police catch them red-handed they are home free. Our protests don't count. I have been coming here for about 20 years steady, and I don't feel like coming back.

"I have always come with others, sometimes with large groups. I don't think these people will want to come back either.

"This year, 1993, seems to be worse than ever. The trend is not good.'' Mr. Bruce, chairman of the Board of Selectmen, a form of town council in Wilmington, also helps organise trips to Bermuda.

He said he would also warn of the dangers of Bermuda's roads.

Mr. Whitney suggested a "demerit'' system could be set up to remove the need for tourists to waste time and money appearing in court as witnesses.

Under it, where a complaint is filed against a driver, his employer would reprimand him.

"There would be a black mark against his record.'' Asked about the need to substantiate complaints, Mr. Whitney replied: "With some drivers there would so many protests, that they can't all be mistaken.'' Police spokesman Sgt. Roseanda Jones, however, substantiation would always be needed.

It was the normal process for Police to investigate any complaint.

And if the alleged offender pleaded not guilty, then the complainant would have to testify.

Tourists would have to fly back to the Island.

"A complaint has to be proven.'' Sgt. Jones said another option was open to people who did not wish to file formal complaints.

Police could put out warnings to motorists to drive more carefully.