While Government is doing everything it can to educate the public on the importance of road safety — the effort appears to be falling on deaf ears — says Senator Wayne Caines.

Two weeks ago, Sen. Caines called for dire measures to be taken to ensure young people in particular, get the message that unsafe driving/riding habits are dangerous.

He renewed the call during last Wednesday's motion to adjourn in the Senate and highlighted that the dangerous trend had risen since he first raised the issue.

He said: "Last week we spoke about 47 road accidents that took place in one weekend, about two weeks ago, and this last weekend (ending March 16) we had 67 road traffic accidents, with two being quite serious.

"We (along with the Road Safety Council) went into the schools with public service announcements... and it seems as if the message is falling on deaf ears — 67 road traffic accidents on one weekend!

"We have to stress and do something as a community because obviously, the numbers have gone up and the Government is doing everything it possibly can at this stage to assist in educating the public to get people to understand the (use of the) road is a privilege.

"And the message that we need to get out is to respect life and limb."

Originally, in the Senate, he stated: "We are informed that last year, there were more than 4,000 road traffic accidents and more than 13 road fatalities.

"This is a trend that is not only alarming, but it's starting to affect almost each and every family."

And he highlighted a list of recommendations that the Road Safety Council recently made to the Minister of Transport as amendments to current road legislation — which he has endorsed.

They include: A graduate licence scheme for all new auxiliary cycle riders, the project ride programme increasing from 11 to 20 hours of instruction, novice riders in their first year, will not be able to tow pillion passengers and novice riders cannot ride after 11 p.m. and must bear a specific license plate that will indicate that they are a novice rider.