A call by Senior Magistrate Will Francis to let certain speeders avoid court has been blasted by the chairperson of the Road Safety Council.

Delcina Bean Burrows said yesterday she was not in favour of Mr. Francis' call for a change in the law to change the speed at which a motorist can mail in their fine.

Instead, programmes promised by the Road Safety Council to be implemented by the end of the year will reduce the number of traffic violators crowding the Thursday's traffic courts.

"We would not be in favour of pushing the limit up to 60 kph,'' Ms Bean-Burrows said. "The Comprehensive Traffic Management strategy will put an end to the congestion at traffic court and eradicate the scourge of traffic violations.'' She said the RSC's plan to reduce the carnage on the roads includes a recommendation to increase the number of days Magistrates' Court has sessions for traffic violations.

And a point system is being researched by RSC legal counsel Phil Perinchief and road safety officer Roxanne Christopher while the Council wants the number of traffic Police increased.

She said: "Within weeks of the implementation of a points system its effects would be realised.'' "Cancellation or revoking of a licence would depend on the number of violations a person has committed. And a major part of the congestion in the courts is the excellent work the Police are doing.'' "We're calling for that division to be beefed up,'' she said.

Ms Bean-Burrows said the fourth plank in the strategy is driver education in the schools, particularly Project Ride, which teaches young people the proper rules of the road.

In other traffic news, Devonshire South MPs John Barritt and Michael Dunkley have released the results of a United Bermuda Party survey of registered voters in their district.

In all, 125 people responded to the mail-in survey and many wrote additional comments on their forms.

The forms were sent to 1,000 homes in Devonshire South in March as part of the sitting MPs canvas of opinion.

The majority of respondents, 118 people, thought the Island's traffic problems had gotten worse while 115 affirmed there is a traffic problem. No one thought traffic had improved or that the Island did not have a problem.

And 89 people thought the number of cars on the road should be limited compared to 25, while 11 failed to answer.

A similar number, 87 thought repeat offenders should have their right to own a car taken away compared to 31 who disagreed.

There was equal opinion on "zero tolerance'' to drinking and driving with 62 in favour and 60 against.

There was a similar split of 65 to 54 respondents in favour of taking away the cars of people who drive while impaired.

Transport Minister Ewart Brown said while he had not seen the report, he applauded the opposition MPs efforts.

But he said most of the recommendations suggested by respondents were already being considered by the RSC in its strategy.

"I knew they were conducting the survey and I encourage their input,'' Dr.

Brown said when contacted yesterday. "Transportation needs vary throughout the country and it's such a small sample, but I'll have a look at it.'' Dr. Brown added the ministry was about to produce its own Island-wide survey.