Bermuda’s tragically high road fatality and injury rates can be reduced through a five-year, evidence-based strategy that is under way, one of its creators has said.

Altonio Roberts, the chairman of the Bermuda Road Safety Council which is leading the charge on Operation Action: Changing Minds, Changing Behaviours, said the plan adopts the principle of Britain's Safe System programme and Vision Zero philosophy that fatalities and life-changing injuries are preventable.

The council is partnering with agencies including the Bermuda Police Service, the Transport Control Department, the Ministry of Education and emergency services, using local data to help inform “interventions”.

Schools, youth organisations, community groups, local businesses and international road safety partners will also be involved in the plan developed by the council along with TCD’s road safety officer. Its approach is informed by local road safety challenges, stakeholder engagement and international best practices.

Mr Roberts told The Royal Gazette: “The primary goal of Operation Action is to reduce road traffic collisions, injuries and fatalities in Bermuda.

“The plan provides a structured and evidence-based framework aimed at reducing road traffic collisions, injuries and fatalities through education, behaviour change, youth engagement, stakeholder collaboration, and policy and enforcement initiatives.

“These can significantly reduce risk and improve safety outcomes.

“The Bermuda Road Safety Council believes Operation Action can make a meaningful contribution towards reducing deaths, injuries and dangerous behaviours on Bermuda's roads over the next five years.”

The plan will use collision data, where available, to monitor trends, identify emerging risks, guide educational initiatives and evaluate programme effectiveness.

Mr Roberts added: “This data-driven approach helps ensure that interventions are targeted towards behaviours and risk factors that contribute most significantly to serious injuries and fatalities on Bermuda's roads.”

Specific death and injury-rate reduction goals will be established as the plan develops.

The council is working to introduce a Bermuda Road Safety Conference to encourage international collaboration and best-practice development. The council has found there is little synergy between Bermuda and other islands.

“I would like to be able to collaborate with sister islands on what is happening in their country and they can take something from us.”

Resources will also support Road Safety Week events, the Junior Road Safety Council, the reintroduction of a Road Safety School Bus which will tour schools and community events with an educational offerings, youth leadership programmes, school-based education, community outreach activities, stakeholder partnerships and the production of a road safety documentary.

Mr Roberts said: “The council views these investments as critical preventive measures that can reduce the long-term social and economic costs associated with road traffic collisions, including healthcare expenses, emergency response costs, property damage and loss of life.”

A number of priorities were identified by examining Bermuda's road safety environment and the behaviours most commonly associated with serious and fatal collisions.

Mr Roberts added: “These include speeding, impaired driving, distracted driving, unsafe riding and driving behaviours, increasing e-bike use, and the vulnerability of motorcyclists and other users of two-wheeled vehicles.

“Bermuda's narrow roads are shared by motorists, motorcyclists, e-bike riders, cyclists and pedestrians, creating unique safety challenges.

“The council is particularly concerned that riders of two-wheeled vehicles continue to be overrepresented in serious and fatal collisions, making this a critical area for intervention.”

Education will be delivered to all age levels. The council will seek to engage children from preschool students learning basic pedestrian safety to senior school students learning about impaired driving, legal responsibilities and the consequences of risky behaviour.

“The strategy is designed to create lasting cultural change by improving risk awareness, personal responsibility and road user behaviour across all sectors of the community.”

The council, the Government and its partners announced work towards a national road safety plan at the end of 2024.

It covers the period from April 1, 2026, to December 31, 2031.

The Bermuda Road Safety Council received $125,000 in the last Budget — a $45,000 boost from the previous year — to help support efforts to promote safe driving.

Owen Darrell, the transport minister, told MPs in March that on average, a slight injury crash happens every 15 hours, a serious one takes place every three and a half days and there is a fatal crash every 31 days.

Mr Darrell said the Budget increase would lead to better “education, enforcement and engineering” to address the matter, adding: “Most collisions are avoidable.”

The adoption of the UK's Safe System approach and Vision Zero principles, recognises that road safety requires coordinated action across education, enforcement, policy, infrastructure and community engagement.

Mr Roberts said: “Through the adoption of the UK's Safe System Approach, the plan aims to create a road environment where serious injury and death are no longer viewed as inevitable consequences of road use.

“It is designed to become Bermuda's long-term road map for improving road safety outcomes.”

Mr Roberts said performance measures will be put in place to monitor the agenda’s success.

“The plan includes a comprehensive monitoring, evaluation and accountability framework.

“Success will be measured through digital analytics, school and youth participation rates, event attendance, stakeholder engagement and road safety performance indicators.

“The council will also review Bermuda Police Service collision data where available to help assess trends and outcomes.

“Baseline performance data will be established at the beginning of the programme, annual reports will provide regular progress updates and a comprehensive evaluation will be undertaken during the final phase to measure overall effectiveness and inform future road safety strategies.”