Shadow Minister for Transport, Senator Michael Fahy has welcomed the plan for graduated licensing but feels Government is taking too long to implement it.

He said graduated licensing is a step in the right direction for safer roads but there has been "no significant improvement in road safety for riders over the past ten years."

Last Thursday a meeting was held at Berkeley Institute Cafetorium where Transport Minister, Premier Ewart Brown, outlined Government's latest plan to curb Bermuda's alarming road death rate with graduated licence scheme at the top of the list.

Sen. Fahy said: "The United Bermuda Party welcomes the plan for graduated bike licensing for our young riders. Statistics prove beyond any doubt that our bike-riding teenagers are at the highest risk. It is incumbent on us to do whatever we can to save them from themselves."

He added: "Graduated licensing is one step that can make our teens safer road users, but there is much more that can be done right now for all of us, young and old. The harsh reality is that there has been no significant improvement in road safety for bike riders over the past ten years. 1998 saw the same number of road deaths as 2008."

He said that the Opposition feels that the problem is the lack of the political will to act.

"Effective road safety measures – the very ones we are discussing today – have been talked about for years without result.

"The record shows, for example, the Transport Minister, now ten years in the post, talking about the effectiveness of speed cameras in 2001 and one year later talking about the importance of graduated licensing.

"It does no good to know how to solve a problem if that knowledge is not put to effect. We can't allow any more words without action."

The UBP is now challenging Dr. Brown and his Ministry to implement basic road safety measures in the next Parliamentary session, which starts next month.

"We would like to see legislation authorising Police to conduct random sobriety testing without grounds for suspicion.

"Breathalyser testing has been proven effective in curtailing drink driving in other jurisdictions – a major problem in Bermuda," said Sen. Fahy

He added: "We would also like to see a formal commitment to the installation of speed cameras with an implementation deadline. As the Premier said seven years ago, speed cameras change driver behaviour. So let's get it done.

"There can be no further excuses for inaction. The Government in general, and the Minister in particular, must be held to account. Solutions exist, but they won't happen without action.

"We can improve road safety. We just have to do it. The time for action is now," added Sen. Fahy

At the poorly attended graduated licence meeting last week the public were informed that teenaged bikers will be banned from riding between midnight and 5 a.m., they also must complete two hours of on-road instruction, remain free of all convictions and they will not be allowed to carry passengers before they have graduated to a full licence.

Road Safety Council chairman Christopher Johnson told the audience that there are other plans in the pipeline targeted to the poor riding of the older generation.