Shadow Transport Minister Michael Fahy claimed yesterday that Government's plan to reduce the number of people killed on Bermuda's roads does not go far enough.

The UBP politician said swift measures needed to be taken to improve road safety including the introduction of breathalyser tests, random sobriety testing by Police without cause for suspicion and mobile and fixed speed cameras.

Senator Fahy was responding to Premier Ewart Brown's pledge on Monday to combat road deaths with schemes such as graduated licensing and a mandatory road skills programme for teenage drivers.

Transport Minister Dr. Brown said deterrents such as sobriety checks and vehicle impounding needed to be researched thoroughly as they could be unconstitutional.

Sen. Fahy said: "Yesterday's statement by the Minister is a disappointment because so much more can be done to improve the safety of our roads.

"The United Bermuda Party welcomes the Minister's plan for graduated bike licensing for our young riders. Statistics prove beyond 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. But graduated licensing is just one of many no-nonsense steps that can be taken right now to impose safer driving habits on the public."

He said Government could move quickly to:

• Introduce breathalyser testing;

l Pass a law allowing Police to conduct random sobriety testing without grounds for suspicion;

l Formally commit to install mobile and fixed speed cameras with an implementation deadline;

l Increase manpower in the Police traffic division with a commitment to more officers on the roads;

l Install "cat's eye" road reflectors down the centre lines, anti-skid surfaces and speed bumps.

l Ensure complete enforcement of existing traffic laws; and

l Make public buses run later at night.

Sen. Fahy said: "These are concrete steps that the Government can take to improve road safety and save lives." He added: "The steps we have outlined are not new. Indeed many of them were known, discussed and supported by the Minister years ago — without action taken.

"The record shows, for instance, 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. We can make a difference, but we need a strong will to make it happen."

The Shadow Minister said the recent Road Safety Council campaign showing gruesome images of crash victims was appreciated but unlikely to have any real impact.