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Increased penalties will deter bad drivers

Police at the scene of a collision in 2025. (Photograph courtesy of Bermuda Police Service)

Dear Sir,

Your recent headline “Enforcement failing to deter bad drivers” does have a solution, should the legislature have the will.

You recently reported a case where the driver was caught on two consecutive days for speeding and was fined $750, given maximum points which meant being taken off the road. That was a slap on the wrist.

To deter speeding, increase the fines. Let the first speeding offence be $5,000 and a second offence within two years $10,000. The vehicle is confiscated until the fine is paid.

Anyone driving without a licence and/or insurance, confiscate the vehicle, which can be sold to cover expenses of the police and issue a fine of $5,000.

I know the bleeding hearts will say the offender needs the vehicle for work. We do have a good bus service and in the “good old days” we walked or cycled to work.

A number of your readers do not like the concept of confiscation of passports until fines are paid, so let us consider other options as suggested above.

Too many people are dying on our roads. Families are losing loved ones, some being very young and have not lived their lives, others losing main supporters of their families, causing economic problems.

I doubt the Government will have the guts to implement such legislation giving magistrates the power which may have some effect on those persons who persistently break the law.

My thoughts are with the families who have lost their loved ones.

ANTONY SIESE

Paget

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Published March 13, 2026 at 7:56 am (Updated March 13, 2026 at 7:36 am)

Increased penalties will deter bad drivers

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