revealed yesterday.

Government plans to introduce a driving test before licences for auxiliary cycles -- 50 c.c. machines -- are handed out.

And Transport Minister Wayne Furbert said he hoped the new test would not only cut the death and injury toll on the roads, but improve the courtesy of bike riders.

Mr. Furbert said: "All a first-time rider has to do is go to a doctor and get their eyes checked, take a walk down to the closest bike shop, jump on a bike and ride.

"Our young people who are turning 16 are doing exactly that without any experience of the road at all.'' The new test will cover Bermudians and foreign workers on the Island who choose to buy a 50 c.c. auxiliary bike.

Mr. Furbert said: "You have to be tested for an 80 c.c. machine, but by that time people will already have developed bad habits.

"We felt it was in the best interests of our young people and those who come here to work that they be tested before they are allowed to drive.'' He added that since the current law was passed in 1954, bike technology has improved and what is classed as an auxiliary bicycle is much faster than the old-style mopeds popular then.

Mr. Furbert, a former chairman of the Road Safety Council, said the move was recommended by the group three years ago.

He added: "I'm in charge of transport matters now and when the Council came back to recommend it again, I had no hesitation in approving it.'' Mr. Furbert said the amendment to the current law would be put before Parliament as soon as possible and was likely to be on the statute books before the end of the year.

The new test is set to include both practical and theory tests. Transport Ministry officials are currently looking at the structure of the new exam.

Mr Furbert said: "We're also trying to find a way to take people on the road for testing. But right now we will probably be doing it in the Transport Control Department yard.'' He admitted: "I'm sure for a while young people particularly will be upset about testing. But responsible adults have to set the pace to ensure teenagers particularly are secure, or at least have some safety testing behind them.'' Mr. Furbert added that legislation requiring bike riders to wear crash helmets was not popular when it was introduced years ago.

But he said: "Nobody bothers about that now -- and helmets have been found to save lives and protect people from injury.'' Mr. Wayne Furbert