Patrols to combat motoring offences will be stepped up this weekend as the Bermuda Police Service drafts in officers on overtime as part of a joint effort to make the island’s roads safer.

Commissioner of Police Darrin Simons said that the public can expect enhanced traffic enforcement from Friday with operations guided by collision data.

His comments came at a media briefing where he stood alongside Owen Darrell, the transport minister, and Ryan Robinson Perinchief, the Minister of National Security.

The group, joined by representatives of the Bermuda Road Safety Council, addressed the public soon after the BPS confirmed the thirteenth road fatality of 2026.

Mr Darrell highlighted that the Government’s road safety strategy set a target of reducing road fatalities and serious injuries by 50 per cent by 2030.

He and others were keen to point out that the issue is a shared one, in which responsibility rests with all road users.

Mr Darrell said: “The choices each of us make — whether it be speed, distraction, drinking and driving, or how we use our roads — affect everyone around us.

“This, therefore, needs a whole of government response as well as a whole of Bermuda response.”

Mr Simons pointed out that the island historically averaged 12 road deaths a year but that 13 were already counted for 2026.

He said: “Bermuda’s long-term road fatality rate is approximately 19 deaths per 100,000 population. This puts Bermuda at the higher end when compared to other jurisdictions.

“This must be treated as a significant public safety issue. It requires a sustained, joined-up response.”

The police commissioner said that the BPS was working with partners, with whom the service has met to make sure that its immediate response is co-ordinated and, “just as important, that the long-term focus is properly addressed”.

He added: “The Bermuda Police Service has already increased traffic enforcement visibility with particular focus on dangerous driving behaviour.”

In an operation yesterday, Mr Simons said, officers issued more than 60 tickets, most of which were for speeding.

“From Friday, the Bermuda Police Service will strengthen this response further through dedicated traffic enforcement operations, particularly during the county games and leading up to the Labour Day period,” he said.

“It’s important to note that additional officers are going to be deployed on an overtime basis to support this work so we’re not just drawing from the business-as-usual, regular working group of officers.

“The public will see enhanced traffic enforcement, our deployments will be guided by collision information, collision data, public complaints so that we can focus our activity where the risk is greatest.

“We will target the behaviours that most likely lead to death and serious injury, and those are speeding, impaired driving, dangerous, careless driving, cellphone use, unsafe overtaking.

“Roadside sobriety operations will take place through to the end of this month and we will be using a risk-based approach that considers the night-time economy and all the social events that are coming up because we know that those are times when people are drinking, in particular.”

Mr Simons urged members of the public to report dangerous and reckless driving.

“If you see behaviour that presents an immediate risk or danger, call 911,” he said.

“Timely reports can help us direct resources and allow us to do things like access CCTV where there is other evidence and respond, sometimes immediately, where circumstances require it and we have the ability to respond.”

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