roads are crammed with thousands of vehicles per square mile.

Bermuda Road Safety Council chairman George Morton Jr. passed this message on to Hamilton Lions during their weekly luncheon.

He said there were 49,000 vehicles licensed, including 22,000 private cars, 5,000 commercial and public service vehicles and 22,000 cycles.

The Road Safety Council's aim was to curb undesirable behaviour on the roads and to this end had instituted a few programmes -- some of which specifically focused on the holiday period.

Mr. Morton said these included the designated driver and the free ride programme which worked to stop drunk driving over Christmas and New Year's Eve.

The first saw the driver of a group get free non-alcoholic drinks for the duration of a group's visit to an establishment.

But while there was heightened awareness in the community when socialising at public establishments the same could not be said of those attending private parties.

Mr. Morton said this was an area the council was trying to reach.

Meanwhile the free ride programme -- which provides safe travel to people incapable of driving on New Year's Eve -- was a huge success in Hamilton last year with 243 people transported home safely and this year will be available in St. George's.

The third programme is "project ride'' which strives to enhance safe driving among first-time road users and will be launched in the early part of next year.

They will be encouraged to take a four course programme in road safety and will be expected to be able to decipher road signs, understand vehicle mechanics and show responsible driving habits.

Some insurers will offer a ten percent discount to those who have completed the course.

DRIVE SOBER - Road Safety Council chairman George Morton and Transport Minister Wayne Furbert announced the start of the festive season's anti-drunk driving campaign yesterday. The designated driver campaign and its familiar red buttons will be popping up around the Island as someone stays sober to make sure their friends get home safely.

By Arthur Bean.