One might think that the death of top cricketer Travis Smith in a collision when he was returning from the wake a of a young man killed on the roads a week earlier would be enough to scare people into driving more sensibly.

But the reality is that it probably won't. It may convince people to slow down for a few days or weeks, but after that, speeds and carelessness will increase again and more people will die or be maimed for life.

Transport Minister Ewart Brown said in today's newspaper that he will be urging Home Affairs Minister Randy Horton to expedite the installation of speed cameras, and these should help, assuming their are put in now when they have been talked about for years.

It seems likely that they will deter speeding as would an increased Police presence on the roads.

Now, there is no doubt that the Police are stretched. They are apparently short some 40 officers and the demands on their time are ever-increasing. But a road death is a serious matter, and deterring speeders and careless drivers through enforcement is essential.

You can have all the laws on the books that you want, but if there is no one around to enforce them, they are nothing more than a waste of time.

Having said that, the Government should consider seriously raising the penalties for speeding, careless and dangerous driving and for impaired driving. The current penalties are not working as a deterrent, and the proof is on the roads every day.

Many of the driving penalties were reduced a day ago as part of a well meaning effort by the United Bermuda Party government to stop the cycle of young people going to prison ? often for driving while disqualified ? and turning into real criminals.

Today the prisons are still full and the roads are death traps. Something has to change.