drivers in the act.

And Acting Police Commissioner Jean-Jacques Lemay is considering special go-slow areas around schools in a bid to protect children from road accidents.

The news came as Police announced they are to give the red light to dangerous driving with a major three-pronged attack starting next week.

Mr. Lemay said an expert from the Calgary Police -- where static `eye in the sky' cameras have been used for some time -- had visited the Island to discuss equipment.

He added: "We are still at the study stage -- if it's the way to go, we will submit a report to Government.'' Mr. Lemay said he had also been looking at special traffic zones around schools -- and added the Island was lucky a tragedy had not happened in recent years.

He explained: "I have seen people overtaking where there are school crossings.

"We have a lot of schools on Middle Road and we're very fortunate that we have not had a serious accident involving children -- we want to make sure that will not happen.'' Pole-mounted cameras were introduced on the approaches to Edinburgh, Scotland, and on the A1, the main Scots road south to England, several years ago -- and were credited with slashing the accident rate and the number of speeding offences.

The cameras detect speeding vehicles and photograph the licence plate -- offenders are sent a copy of the photograph along with their penalty notices.

School zones -- with special road markings, lower speed limits, speed bumps and parking no-go areas -- are also used elsewhere.

Mr. Lemay said: "We are going to be looking at different methods and how things have been implemented elsewhere, like the UK and North America, to see what can be best adapted to Bermuda.'' But Mr. Lemay said Police would be going full speed ahead with a special 29-strong Task Force to clamp down on motoring offences from Monday.

The move into top gear was backed has been backed by Transport Minister Wayne Furbert and Public Safety Minister Quinton Edness.

Mr. Furbert said: "It's time that we took back our streets with regard to traffic.'' And he added: "I'm sure that with the behaviour changes which will come into place, we will see an improvement in the conduct on our streets. Mr. Lemay said the drive would have three stages: education, including a media blitz, target enforcement in selected areas with cautions being given if needed -- and then throwing the book at cyclists and motorists who still refuse to get the message.

And he warned: "People who believe they can continue to speed after we provide the public with the opportunity to change and reminding them about road safety had better start saving their money.

"It will be very costly for them.'' But he said: "Going out there issuing tickets and arresting people is not the solution. It may come to that once we have exhausted other avenues, but we need to take it one step at a time.

"If we are just going out there and issuing tickets, it will not change people's habits -- we really want to educate and change people's habits.'' Ch. Insp. Larry Smith -- in charge of the Police traffic department -- added that Government workmen had already started installing special red-and-white warning signs -- reading `speed checked by detection devices' -- at key points across the Island.

And the new, more sensitive, laser speed guns will be deployed at danger spots.

Serious problems on the roads currently include speeding, cyclists and drivers jumping red lights, ignoring traffic signs and bike riders cteating `third lanes' by driving up the middle of roads or overtaking on the left hand side.

He added other traffic violations on the Police hit list are double parking, especially in Hamilton, St. George's and Somerset, obstructing traffic and overtaking on bends.

Ch. Insp. Smith said: "We have a serious problem and it's cause for concern.

Motorists are just totally oblivious to the laws of the land.''