A free late-night minibus service is being launched to help cut the number of drunk drivers on Bermuda's roads.

Two vehicles will pick drinkers up from opposite the Emporium Building in Front Street in the early hours of Saturday mornings, under the scheme launched by the Centre for Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention (CADA).

However, taxi drivers last night reacted angrily to the news and accused organisers of "taking bread and butter from our mouths".

They say they have relied on the custom of late-night revellers for years and claim they were not consulted properly over the move.

Announcing the "Let Us Drive" initiative yesterday, CADA said one minibus would head to the west end and the other to the east, dropping passengers at their homes or as near as possible. The vehicles will make two trips from Front Street each, at 1.15 a.m. and 3.15 a.m.

Each minibus — supplied by the St. George's and West End Minibus Company — seats 15 people, meaning a total of 60 will be taken home throughout the course of the evening.

CADA said it was reacting to research showing that more than half of fatalities on Bermuda's roads in 2005 involved alcohol or drugs.

Speaking at a press conference, CADA chairman Anthony Santucci said: "CADA remains committed to reducing the number of alcohol related deaths and accidents on Bermuda's roads."

Reacting last night, Gilbert Trott, president of Bermuda Taxi Association, said: "We are totally opposed to it. I don't see the relevance. Offering transportation to people is not going to curb drinking and driving. If you have got a problem with drinking and driving, you have got to stop alcohol.

"The taxi industry has been driving drunk people since taxis have been introduced, not only on Fridays but every night of the week. What does this do for our livelihood?

"We were only consulted at the last minute, and I told them what I thought. CADA can cancel their minibus and leave it to the taxi drivers here who have been doing this the whole time."

Michael Ray, president of BTA Dispatching, said: "What about the guys who are working the shifts? You are just taking bread and butter right out of the taxi drivers' mouths.

"It would have been manners to approach the three dispatching companies about this. We could have made an offer to help. I was not approached.

"I support the concept of having drunk people off the roads, but they should not be taking our bread and butter away."

Mr. Santucci said: "I want to be very clear, it is not CADA's intention to in any way usurp the ability of taxi drivers to continue to provide services at these times.

"We are simply providing an alternative to drinking and driving and possibly saving a life in the process."

The scheme is being sponsored by Bacardi and will initially operate on an eight-week trial basis, beginning this Saturday. It comes after CADA's successful "Don't Drink and Drive" public awareness campaign.

Bacardi Limited's human resources director Alana Rogers said: "Bacardi Limited is proud to sponsor this important initiative. We believe our products should be enjoyed responsibly and this service should be used by those who enjoy a night out without getting behind the wheel. Drinking and driving should not be an option."

Figures show 128 crashes in 2005 were as a result of alcohol or drugs — 4.4 percent of the total. Officers arrested 120 motorists on suspicion of impaired driving.

Last year, Police recorded 111 accidents where drink or drugs were suspected, 3.9 percent of the total 2,839. There were 113 arrests for impaired driving.

A huge proportion of people suspected of drunk driving when stopped by Police fail breath tests. In 2006, 78 percent of the 262 people tested failed; in 2005 the figure was 80 percent and in 2004 it was 82 percent.

Mr. Santucci said the service had been arranged to fill the gap when public transport is no longer available in the early hours of Saturday — also the time when most people are arrested on suspicion of impaired driving.

He said the scheme could be extended if the trial period proves a success.

A Bermuda Police Service spokesman said: "The Bermuda Police Service supports this latest initiative by CADA as we work together to make Bermuda's roads safer for all road users. The risk of injury, serious injury or death due to impaired driving is real and we urge the public not to drink and drive, but to use the available alternatives instead."