People caught drink driving should be forced to attend Alcoholic Anonymous meetings, according to a road safety expert.

That is one of the recommendations to be made under a strategic plan prepared by the Road Safety Council to help address the toll of deaths on the roads.

Last year 17 people died on Bermuda's roads, the worst number for a decade. In the last three weeks alone three young men have died in road accidents.

Yesterday, Acting Road Safety Officer David Minors spoke to a meeting of the Hamilton Rotary Club when he said road safety was not just Government's problem it was community-wide issue.

Mr. Minors told Rotarians the problems with road safety could only be solved if the community came together to create change.

"Road safety is not an issue for Government solely, they have their part. Road safety is a community-wide issue which needs everyone involved to solve the problem.

"Together we can make a difference. Together we can create the change we want to see. I believe that. Together we can make an impact."

Mr. Minors said the Council has worked on a strategic action plan for road safety which should be released next month.

Legislative recommendations include mandatory pedal cycle helmets, mandatory Alcoholics Anonymous for driving while impaired offenders and random roadside sobriety checks.

Mr. Minors said: "Our Strategic Action Plan which will be released very soon, outlines where we want to take road safety over the next several years. It was a labour of love to produce and we feel it can make an impact on road safety for many years to come."Mr. Minors said because alcohol has been involved in a large percentage of fatalities, action needs to be taken to combat the issue."The entire community must be involved. The bars, the patrons, the club owners, the Government. We all must take out role in this problem seriously."He continued: "I stated earlier that we need to encourage individual responsibility when it comes to our driving and riding habits. Change starts at home. "We must model positive driving habits and skills so that our children have the correct model to mimic. Additionally, collectively we must push for radical change.""We need radical change to reach those radicals who use our roads as their personal racetracks or God forbid, their highways to heaven or hell", he added. Mr. Minors also said the Road Safety Council is willing to work with organisations or businesses who are willing to stand up against drinking and driving.