Bus drivers are crashing into other vehicles that are driving through the new Hamilton Bus Terminal illegally, Bermuda Industrial Union president Chris Furbert said yesterday.

Mr. Furbert said this was one of the unresolved matters remaining with the Labour Department following the successful resolution of the staffing dispute that caused Monday's bus strike.

"Ever since the Bus Terminal came online there have been huge challenges with accidents there and bus drivers being held liable," he said.

Mr. Furbert said that bus drivers had been backing into cars as they pulled out of their bays, and called for improved signage to make it clear that the cars should not be there.

Despite the existing signs at the Victoria Street entrance to the bus station stating there is no access to vehicles other than buses and commercial business vehicles, a steady stream of motorcycles and private cars passed through yesterday afternoon.

Mr. Furbert said the secretary of the Bus Operators and Allied Workers Division had written to Public Transportation Board director Dann Simmons in February ? the month the terminal opened ? to raise this concern.

"There are concerns as to the overall safety of the public. It's wrong to allow traffic to flow through there. Nowhere else would you find that," he said. He added that the matter is now being examined by the Labour Department.

Responding to these comments, Mayor of Hamilton Jay Bluck said he understood the concerns ? and blamed the Police for not enforcing the traffic regulations.

"My solution was to say that we should get a Police officer to be there for two or three days ticketing everybody that goes into that station. That would certainly send out a strong message but it's the same old story that we cannot enforce the rules that exist as the Police are unable to do an adequate job," he said.

Mr. Bluck added the designers of the terminal should have been aware that this problem could arise too.