Messages of praise for road crash survivor Dejon Simmons flooded in from all corners of the House of Assembly yesterday.

Both Government and Opposition politicians hailed the bravery of the 17-year-old, after a hard-hitting television documentary showed how he fought back from a harrowing bike accident that left him with third degree burns to 90 per cent of his body.

Former Premier Jennifer Smith said the road safety message in Thursday night?s programme appeared to have worked. She said her drive from St. George?s to Hamilton on Friday was ?calm?, and she only saw one bike driving dangerously. She said they normally overtook on both sides.

?Even if it?s for one day, it?s clear the story had an impact on the Bermuda travelling public,? she said.

Shadow Community Affairs Minister Louise Jackson said just talking about Dejon?s experiences made ?tears come to her eyes?. She also praised the professional way the film, commissioned by the Road Safety Council, was made.

Her United Bermuda Party colleague, Jon Brunson, said he hoped the powerful documentary on the Berkeley student would have a long-term impact on the Island?s road safety culture, and not just change attitudes to dangerous driving for one day.

PLP backbencher Glenn Blakeney said the ?courageous? story highlighted strength of human spirit and the importance of family support.

Health Minister Patrice Minors told the House she watched the hour-long show ? which aired an all three local TV stations ? with Dejon?s family. She praised them for standing by their son, whose looks were so disfigured by fire he considered taking his life.

Shadow Minister Maxwell Burgess said the programme?s underlying message was ?never give up?.

And Shadow Education Minister Neville Darrell said the crash account showed how fragile life could be and added: ?This is one of those stories that we need to revisit, perhaps on a quarterly basis.?

The UBP?s Trevor Moniz calling for Government action to stop teenagers who are ?living life on the edge?, putting high-octane additives in bike gas. He said such additives led to higher speeds, but warned they were also highly explosive.