Critics say Government’s new measures to combat traffic congestion do not go far enough.

Environmentalist Stuart Hayward called for a cap on the number of cars allowed on the roads as the only truly effective way of ending jams.

He pointed out that while vehicle ownership is tied to property ownership and new homes continue to be built, it is inevitable that more cars will hit the streets in future.

“If it’s the number of cars that we’re concerned about, then let’s address the number of cars. This is really beating around the bush,” said Mr. Hayward. “I give credit to the Transport Minister for beginning to tackle this but I worry about the piecemeal effort.”

Among the measures announced by Premier and Transport Minister Ewart Brown on Thursday are laws to limit cars available to expatriate workers, and further legislation to tackle the black market in property-linked assessment numbers for cars. He also announced more frequent bus services and a moratorium on truck permits for a year from July.

Dr. Brown said: “The resolution of our traffic problems requires bold and decisive action from Government and a willingness on the part of the community to make personal sacrifices.”

However, while acknowledging that “Bermuda has been straining under the almost unchecked increase in the number of vehicles on the roads” — blaming this on the second-hand market — Dr. Brown did not go as far as capping the overall number of vehicles allowed.

Mr. Hayward commented: “If you’re going to be bold and decisive, then put a ceiling on the number of cars. Period. That would be bold and decisive. Then you would figure out how you are going to divvy up the cars.

“We’re not tackling cars. We’re tackling everything but cars — who’s going to drive them, what days they are going to be driven on, but the number of cars can continue to rise even though we have all this.

“Unless we do something about the number of cars, all you are doing is delaying the inevitable.”

Mr. Hayward believes that around 90 additional cars hit Bermuda’s roads every month.

According to the Bermuda Online website these add to the woes of an Island that has the highest traffic density of anywhere in the world, at more than 2,600 vehicles per square mile.

Transport Control Department figures show there were 29,230 private cars in 2005 — and with other vehicles such as trucks and motorbikes added, the total number equalled one vehicle for every one of the Island’s 69,000 residents.

Mr. Hayward personally favours capping the number of car licences available, and then finding fair ways to dish them out. “I would set it at a limit close to where we are now so we don’t shock everybody at once, and then diminish the limit yearly. The creative aspect is who gets the cars. There would be some parts of the community who you would want to have private transportation and then why not have a lottery for the rest?” he suggested.

Opposition Leader Michael Dunkley also called on Government to detail how it will address the issue of new properties adding to the pool of assessment numbers entitling residents to a car.

He welcomed improvements to public transport as a step in the right direction. However, he said it was necessary to go further through initiatives such as more late-running buses and ferries and US-style school buses.

“I’ve heard many people say the real traffic issues we have are during rush hour. We need to focus on that because, outside of that, it’s not that acute,” he commented.

Julian Cusack, Chief Financial Officer of Aspen Insurance Holdings, welcomed plans to improve public transport and tackle congestion but expressed concern about limiting car ownership for expatriate workers.

“We need to balance this against the need to provide an attractive lifestyle to all our employees whether they are Bermudian or guest workers,” he said.

He added that talks are ongoing between international businesses and Government, which he hopes will address worries the ex-pat car crackdown could be off-putting to potential overseas recruits.

Independent MP Jamahl Simmons said: “I support these measures one hundred percent as I believe that serious steps need to be taken to improve traffic congestion and to restore law and good order among our motoring community.”