Legislative changes to be proposed on impaired driving
The Bermuda Road Safety Council is calling for tougher penalties for impaired driving and changes in the drinking culture to make the roads safer.
Altonio Roberts, the chairman of the council, was speaking at the launch of its December campaign focused on the importance of sober designated drivers.
He was joined by Owen Darrell, the Minister of Tourism, Transport, Culture and Sport, and Anthony Santucci, the executive director of alcohol and drug abuse awareness charity Cada.
Mr Roberts’s comments came after the publication this week of the Annual Report of the Bermuda Drug Information Network, the result of collaborative research conducted by the Bermuda Hospitals Board and the Department of National Drug Control.
The report revealed that there were 194 traffic incidents in 2024 in which the driver failed a breath test, with the highest reading of the year being 389 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood— more than four times the legal limit.
Mr Roberts told The Royal Gazette: “The BRSC is looking at making some recommendations to the ministry.
“There are penalties in place and I think we need to continue to enforce those penalties so that we are following the legislation, but I think it is also important that there are penalties that we can increase.”
Mr Darrell said: “We consistently, as a government, work with [the Attorney-General’s] Chambers to look at legislation and see how far we can take it.
“There are discussions being held to change legislation and to change penalties to that effect, and to increase them.
“As the minister responsible for road safety and the road safety council, I would like to see more done in all aspects of road safety and that includes legislation that will come.”
The penalty for a first offence of impaired driving is a $1,500 fine and an 18-month disqualification from driving all vehicles.
For a second offence within two years, there is a $2,500 fine and the offender is banned for three years from driving all vehicles.
The third or subsequent offence within two years includes a $5,000 fine and disqualification for five years.
In February, senior magistrate Maxanne Anderson told a special sitting of the court at the Dame Lois Browne-Evans Building, to mark the start of the new legal year, that laws must be amended if punishments were expected to match the severity of traffic infringements.
The road safety council’s slogan official slogan for December is “Designate Your Driver/Designated Driver.”
Mr Santucci said Cada’s message was simple: “ABCD — Always use, Bus, Cab or Designated driver.”
Asked whether the Government was considering a late-night bus and ferry service to help transport people home after an evening of partying, Mr Darrell said: “As you have seen, we have made considerable steps to modernise public transportation on this island and we will continue to modernise it more, even if it means looking at adjusting existing schedules.
“There are many stakeholders involved in this and as we continue to modernise transportation, all of this will be reviewed.”
Asked if there was a timeline for the review, the minister said there was “not an official date as of now”.
Both Mr Roberts and Mr Darrell emphasised how Bermuda’s drinking culture needed to change.
Mr Roberts said: “I believe that we as a community have to change our behaviour. When will decide enough is enough? Let’s hold our friends and family accountable for their behaviours, and when that happens there will be change.”
Mr Darrell added: “What we need to focus on is a change immediately is a change of culture.”
He said the designated driver campaign existed for one reason, “to keep our community safe during a time of increased celebrations. Responsibility and accountability matter”.
Never drink and drive: if you plan to consume alcohol, designate a sober driver or use a taxi
Stay alert for impaired drivers: be especially cautious late at night and on holidays
Respect traffic laws: they exist to protect us, especially during busy travel periods
Observe speed limits: adjust your speed based on road conditions
Follow traffic signals and signs: attention saves lives
Practise patience: frustration and aggression behind the wheel lead to dangerous choices, particularly during the hectic holiday rush
• Information provided by the transport minister
Mr Santucci advised people to use public transportation,.
“We also encourage people to add the phone number of a local taxi cab service or a specific taxicab driver to their mobile phone. This way, when you are ready to go home, you can call a cab,” he added.
“The third option is to assign a designated driver before you go out.”
Figures released in the Bermuda Drug Information Network report showed that in 2024, 96 drivers were stopped for road sobriety checks and subjected to a breathalyser.
The average test result showed 168mg/100ml, slightly more than double the legal limit of 80mg/100ml.
Mr Roberts said it was important to co-ordinate transportation before going on a night out.
He also said that event organisers and those serving alcohol had a responsibility to promote designated-driver programmes and consider providing shuttle services and partnering with taxi companies.
Mr Darrell thanked all of the members of the council for their work to make the roads safer.
The Bermuda Police Service said it remains committed to enforcing the laws governing impaired driving.
A spokesman said: “We continue to remind the public of the dangers of impaired diving end encourage persons to make good decisions not operate any vehicle, if they intend to use mind altering substances.
“Our high visibility roads policing initiatives will remain in place help deter against persons engaging in this dangerous life-threatening practice.”
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