zero alcohol drink driving limit would be discussed at Cabinet level.

And she gave a provisional thumbs-up to the idea, floated by new Road Safety Council chairman Delcina Bean Burrows.

Home Affairs and Public Safety Minister Ms Cox said: "It's something which is obviously an ideal to aim for in terms of an end goal.

"Maybe it's a desirable end result -- but it would involve not just me but others.

"It's something we would have to consider, but it's not something I could commit the whole Cabinet to.'' But Ms Cox's opposite number of the UBP benches, Michael Dunkley, said he believed a zero limit was heading down the wrong road.

And he insisted that rigorous enforcement of the current laws would be enough to send the message that drinking and driving will not be tolerated.

Ms Cox, however, said: "Bearing in mind we want to do something and do something real to minimise the number of road accidents and deaths, anything which would do that would get a favourable review.

"My view is that a zero limit is maybe an end goal we have to get to -- but you have to differentiate between social and excess drinking, bearing in mind there is always a balance to be struck.'' Mr. Dunkley said he "commended the initiative'' of the Road Safety Council and the high-profile the group has taken under Ms Bean Burrows' leadership.

He added: "It's great that they're really keen to get on top of the problems we face on the roads.'' But he insisted: "I think most people are responsible enough to know how to behave and one drink isn't going to impair anybody.

"What we should do is look at enforcing the rules we have at the moment and I think we would see a major improvement in road safety.

"The present blood/alcohol level is sufficient, but it should be enforced more.'' Mr. Dunkley added: "A zero alcohol law has good intentions -- but it goes too far and it would mean law-abiding people would then be breaking the law.

"Liquor in Bermuda is a legal substance and a complete ban on drinking and driving would be tantamount to asking people to break the law.'' And he said a zero alcohol policy could hurt the tourist trade -- which is already suffering.'' Ms Bean Burrows said the first meeting of the Road Safety Council had targeted drunk driving as its top priority.

And she said a legal limit -- currently 80 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood -- could impair some people more than others, even if they were all legally fit to drive.

Ms Bean Burrows admitted that she could see strong opposition to a total ban on alcohol and driving -- but insisted driving was a privilege, not a right.

But she added Government could lessen the impact by regular cuts in the legal alcohol limit -- currently the same as the UK -- until zero level was reached.

Some Scandinavian countries already have a zero alcohol limit for driving -- and the idea has been floated in the past in the UK.

A spokesman for the Bermuda Police pulled up short of backing a no-drink driving policy -- but said the force would back any new legislation which would cut the grim toll of death on the Island's roads.

DRUGS DGS