Despite more taxis being made available to deal with party revellers on New Years? Eve, sidewalks in Front Street remained lined with people until 4 a.m.

People were begging police to help them get home as the Island?s taxi service seemed incapable in dealing with the high numbers of people needing rides.

The few taxis that were seen in Hamilton were picking up more than one group in an effort to cope.

Driver Leroy Tucker said there were more taxis this year than last year, but because so many functions finished at the same time, they had a hard time coping.

?Even if you put all Bermuda?s taxis on the road on that night, they still wouldn?t cope, especially when you have up to eight night-clubs and pubs in town that close at the same time and functions at all the hotels that finished up at 3 a.m,? he said.

It was suggested by some that Island companies like Bacardi and Goslings make complimentary buses available on New Year?s Eve to help take revellers home.

But Mr. Tucker said this wouldn?t help as buses could still only go along designated bus routes and many people were too drunk to walk anywhere.

?They want to get dropped off on their doorstep and it?s safer this way,? he said.

He said despite the long wait, most of the people on Front Street would eventually have been picked up and taken home.

?By 5 a.m., the streets were deserted and most of us got to go home,? he said.

Asked if drunk passengers were a problem, he said fare dodgers were a bigger one.