Taking on the position of Road Safety Council Chairman is a professional and personal mission for Dr. Christopher Johnson ? his sister died in a road traffic accident 21 years ago.

And his brother underwent an extensive and painful recovery process as a result of the same road traffic accident.

Dr. Johnson told these tragic events spurred him on to pursue a medical career and now take up the help of the organisation dedicated to raising awareness of the dangers on Bermuda?s roads.

Dr. Johnson said he is ready for the job and feels that his years of experience in Los Angeles trauma centres and major studies on trauma victims have well prepared him for the job.

His year-and-a half at Bermuda?s Elan Clinic has also enabled Dr. Johnson to see more than his fair share of the Island?s road accident victims.

?It?s funny people have been asking why I have the Road Safety position saying ?you?re just a plastic surgeon,?? he said. ?I?m in charge of putting everyone back together after they are involved in horrific accidents and I have seen so many people since I have been here. I know something needs to be done on the Island.?

In light of Bermuda?s 13 road fatalities in 2005 and recently released statistics which state that that alcohol-related accidents have risen 25 percent in 2005, Dr. Johnson seems to be right.

?One thing the Island needs to realise is that it is society?s moral obligation to help friends and family and ensure they don?t drink and drive,? Dr. Johnson said.

He encouraged people to take keys away from loved ones who are over the legal limit, something he has done himself when he sees intoxicated friends attempt to drink and drive. While he admitted it was sometimes difficult, he maintained it is everyone?s job to help reduce the number of drinking and driving related accidents.

?I want to get to the crux of why it has been socially acceptable to drink and drive,? he said. ?I would like to see more options for people. We aren?t going to change the social drinking culture in Bermuda, but we can change the choices people make.?

One suggestion Dr. Johnson made was to expand the number of hours public transportation is offered, keeping it running later so that people can avail of the ferry and bus service after they leave the bar.

?It may cost money but in the long run it will benefit Bermuda,? he said.

Dr. Johnson said the cost of treating people who are involved in road collisions can be astronomical.

In his opinion, providing people with cheap, easy alternatives to driving home intoxicated will reduce the costs of medical care because less people will be involved in alcohol-related accidents.

He also hopes that the newly implemented GPS system in taxis will increase the number of taxis on Front Street after bars have closed. He wants the RSC will do more with the designated driver programme as well.

?It may work with the right incentives.? he said. ?The designated driver programme is something I definitely want to work on.?

Dr. Johnson comes to the job with extensive medical training having studied at Oxford University and Harvard Medical School. Before arriving in Bermuda he worked in hospitals across the US and has published articles in numerous medical journals.

Along with his experience, Dr. Johnson brings a high level of energy.

He aimed high when he outlined his goals as new RSC chairman. He wants to see a graduated licence system coupled with a mandatory, extensive training programme for all new drivers ? local and expat. He also wants to see a trauma registry, increase in full face helmets and the implementation of CCTV cameras.

Another area he said the Island needs to look into is tourist-related road accidents. In 2005, excluding figures for December, 217 female tourists and 123 male tourists were involved in bike accidents.

?I have seen people who got off the cruise ship, got a bike and didn?t make it across Front Street before they were involved in an accident,? he said.

?And then they spend their entire vacation at the hospital and coming to see me.?

?I think we should look again at bringing three- or four-wheel vehicles to the Island for tourists,? he said. ?It?s something I would like the RSC to re-explore with the livery operators.?

Dr. Johnson is excited to have been offered the new role by Transport Minister Dr. Ewart Brown.

He has fallen in love with Bermuda.

?I have had a great time and made lots of friends,? he said. ?I really feel as though this is my home.?

?I am excited about the position because I am tired of seeing the pain and misery accidents have caused.?