Drivers should begin "buckling up" immediately and watch their speed after a number of new laws were rubber stamped yesterday in an attempt to address Bermuda's dismal road safety record.

Legislation was passed in the Senate to make the wearing of seatbelts mandatory and to allow Police to begin using cameras to catch speeders, although the laws will not come into effect until signed by the acting Governor.

Government Senator Milton Scott said that in the first ten months of this year there were 2,400 accidents on Bermuda's roads resulting in 1,100 injuries - 160 of which were serious and eight of which were fatal.

Sen. Scott said studies have shown that reducing average speed by 30 percent can lead to a 23 percent reduction in serious crashes.

The Senate passed two Acts in relation to the new hidden cameras - one will allow them to be used while the other attaches fines and enforcement procedures.

Sen. Scott said, under the new laws, speeders will no longer have to attend court in order to pay their fines.

He said the cameras would photograph the licence plate of speeding vehicles and the fines would then be mailed to offenders.

Provided the speeder does not have more than two previous convictions, they will be able to pay fine at a Police Station.

Sen. Scott said the move would hopefully reduce the amount of court time eaten up by traffic offences.

But Opposition Senator Kim Swan criticised the introduction of the hidden cameras and suggested it was "shaggy legislation".

Sen. Swan said because the owners of the vehicles will receive the fines regardless of who was actually driving at the time, many people will protest their fines claiming "it wasn't me".

But other senators argued that the hidden cameras have been effective in other jurisdictions and Bermuda should be able to work through kinks in the system.

Senator Walwyn Hughes asked at what speed the hidden cameras would be triggered suggesting that speed would become the new de facto speed limit.

When it was suggested the trigger would be set at 35 kph - Bermuda's current speed limit on the books - he reacted incredulously.

"Is that our speed limit really," he asked.

The Upper House uniformly welcomed the legislation making wearing seatbelts mandatory while driving on Bermuda's roads.

Both drivers and passengers must now buckle up and drivers will be held legally responsible for insuring children under the age of 18 are wearing their seatbelts as well.

Within the legislation, provisions are also made for child safety seats.

Sen. Scott said there would be a one year grace period during which non-compliers would only receive warnings about the new law.

And many senators recalled the introduction of helmet laws in Bermuda and drew parallels with public reaction to the seatbelt laws.

Sen. Calvin Smith recalled that prior to making helmets mandatory there were some 30 road deaths each year.

And Sen. Hughes said that while people originally protested, it is now second nature to strap on a helmet when jumping on a bike and when one forgets they immediately know something is wrong.