Pre-paid taxis will be waiting in line to take New Year's Eve revellers home free of charge as efforts are stepped up to stop drinking and driving.

The Road Safety Council and Government have linked up with the Bermuda Taxi Owners Company, Holmes Williams and Purvey and Shell Company, to pump $5,000 into the `Free Ride' programme.

It is part of an overall programme, which includes the designated driver campaign, being run over the festive season to halt drinking and driving.

With the $5,000, between 25 and 30 taxis will be hired on New Year's Eve to take people home from Hamilton free of charge.

In addition, a Suburban Transit Mini-Buss will tour the city picking people up and taking them to the taxis, parked outside No 1 Shed.

"The goal of the Road Safety Council is to reduce impaired driving and provide people with options and alternatives,'' said the group's chairman, Mr.

George Morton.

"Choosing a designated driver is a preferred option, but the Free Ride programme will be made available as a safeguard to those who have failed to heed all the warnings about driving after drinking,'' he added.

Mr. Morton said it was not an open invitation for people to drink, but was designed to counteract the problem of driving while drunk, or even after two glasses of wine which could still impair driving.

He said the scheme could not have been co-ordinated without the support of the sponsors and added: "This programme will provide yet another safeguard to reduce accidents and injury caused by impaired driving.'' On New Year's Eve the mini-bus will circulate throughout Hamilton picking people up from bars and clubs, but it can also be called on 235 1825 and 234 8986.

At the taxi rank, two people will be on duty to assign taxis to people. Taxis will be available from 12.30 a.m. to 3.30 a.m. only.

The service will only cover Hamilton, but if it proves successful, it could be expanded in future years to cover the East and West Ends. It could also be used to cover events like Cup Match.

At the launch of the initiative yesterday, Transport Minister Wayne Furbert, said: "This is the first time we have been able to do this and it will be of great benefit to the public.'' SEARCH ON FOR SAILOR LOST OVERBOARD RES Search on for sailor lost overboard An air-and-sea search is under way for a sailor who went overboard in storm-tossed seas 150 miles off Bermuda.

The 30-year-old man was on a 65-foot ketch, Talina , heading to Bermuda from Boston.

A Harbour Radio spokesman said the boat was rocked by 50 knot winds and 25-foot seas when the man went missing at noon yesterday.

The cargo ship, Oleander , which had left Bermuda on Boxing Day, was diverted to the scene, the spokesman added.

And a United States Coast Guard aircraft was sent out to search the area.

The C-130, however, returned to Bermuda at about 4.30 p.m. as the light began to fade, the spokesman said.

"It has been tasked to continue searching tomorrow. At this stage we have no details as to the events surrounding the loss at sea.'' The spokesman said the boat was north northwest of Bermuda when the incident occurred.

He added Talina , with some 10 crewmen on board, left Boston on Christmas Eve.

It was expected in Bermuda this afternoon.