brakes on speeders.

A dozen officers, plus two Sergeants, are out patrolling the roads armed with speed guns.

The initiative was prompted by rising public concerns about danger on the roads and will not be limited to a particular time frame.

Last night George Morton Jr., chairman of the Bermuda Road Safety Council, welcomed the Police move which he said would help curtail the "obnoxious behaviour'' seen on the roads.

"We needed to come up with some sort of immediate solution to deter people from behaving in an uncivilised manner on the roads,'' he said.

Mr. Morton said the Council had been lobbying the Transport Minister, Wayne Furbert, about improved road safety measures such as cameras and amendments to legislation.

But he said one of the biggest deterrents was an obvious presence which the Police with the radar guns would provide.

"We do not necessarily want to increase the number of people apprehended. The big thing is presence. We do not want the public to get the impression that the Police are out to get them,'' added Mr. Morton.

The Police initiative began earlier this week and involved 12 officers plus two Sergeants.

They will work in teams patrolling the roads Island-wide -- as part of a scheme promised by Commissioner Colin Coxall who said officers would be moved to concentrate on road problems.

As well as speeding, they will also be on the look-out for dangerous and reckless driving as well as other traffic offences.

Police spokesman P.c. Gary Venning said the initiative would be kept going at the Commissioner's discretion.

"There is an increase in the number of patrols dealing with this particular problem,'' he said. "The Police have noticed that there has been a deterioration in driving habits and the public has expressed concerns recently about that noticeable deterioration.''