If the road safety message is going to get across to the public, it looks like it will have do so bit by bit.

The United Bermuda Party yesterday took its roadshow on road accidents to Mount St. Agnes Auditorium, where safety expert Joe Froncioni gave a presentation on his survey revealing which people are most at risk.

But excluding a smattering of Opposition politicians, the number of people in the audience barely crept into double figures.

Dr. Froncioni expressed disappointment about the turnout, which left hundreds of empty chairs, but pressed ahead with a list of startling facts in any case.

He produced graphs illustrating the hugely disproportionate amount of injuries suffered by younger road users, particularly 16-year-olds. "We give them a privilege that no other country gives 16-year-olds," said Dr. Froncioni.

"Motorbikes have the biggest rate of injuries of any form of transport. It's criminal to put a 16-year-old on a bike without a mandatory comprehensive motorcycle test."

He paid tribute to the graduated licensing scheme being introduced by Government, which he has repeatedly been calling for, but said two hours on-road riding instructions was not enough. The former Road Safety Council chairman said last night: "I was hoping there would be more people here. It's a topic that seems to be scaring people away."