Last year's alarming number of road deaths has caught the attention of policy makers who are working towards changing the way motorists travel on our roads.

Seventeen people were killed on Bermuda's roads in 2008. The number has caused the Bermuda Road Safety Council to propose implementation of safe driving courses and changing some of the laws to make drivers more accountable for dangerous driving.

As part of the 2008 Year-end Report, Premier Dr. Ewart Brown said: "First I would like us to reflect on the number 17. I wish I could say this was a random number that I chose, however this is not the case.

"As you know that is the number of people we lost in traffic accidents on Bermuda's roads last year. It is an alarming statistic that captured the attention of a great many Bermudians. After all, every one of us and those we love, use Bermuda's roads in some fashion on a daily basis. Safe passage on those roads has become hazardous and changing that reality must be important to all of us," he said.

Dr. Brown stated that it would take the effort of the entire community to combat road death in addition to new ideas and legislation, which will be put into place.

He said: "You will already note a more aggressive print ad campaign launched by the Road Safety Council to address the issue of drunk driving. Despite its controversy, the campaign has my full support, because the gruesomeness of a photograph is far more palpable to me than the loss of another Bermudian life.

"Research tells us that Black adult males are the most frequent victims of fatal crashes involving alcohol. Given this information, I have encouraged the Council to use the campaign strategically - putting the ads up in the men's rooms of bars, in men's gym locker rooms and on construction sites. The campaign has been strategically tailored to reach that target audience."

Images of people killed in road accidents will also be posted on CITV, Government's local broadcasting channel.

A Government spokesperson has assured that prior to the station airing the footage a warning will be given alerting parents and sensitive viewers of what is to come.

Also included in the report were the Graduated Licensing and the mandatory Project Ride programme for all new teenage road users intending on obtaining a licence.

As proposed in the Road Safety Council's guerrilla campaign he mentioned possible changed to the Traffic Penalties Act such as field sobriety checks and impounding the vehicles of motorists driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

"There are legal and perhaps even constitutional impediments to such an approach so these matters will require a methodical study before they can be implemented or even suitably debated.

Dr. Brown said: "I am confident we will make great progress on all of these measures in the upcoming year. They are sensible public transport approaches that have the support of sensible people.

"However, these measures have not been designed to change dangerous roads; the clear focus on our part is to change a dangerous driving culture."

He added: "Recognition of that essential nuance is critical as we move forward. Inexperienced road users and drinkers who become drivers before they have sobered up is where we will focus our attention. The research not our emotions tells us that a two-pronged approach is what is needed to improve our chances of preventing another statistic like 17."