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BERMUDA | RSS PODCAST

‘Let’s take our roads back, let’s uphold the rules of the road’

Drivers need to come together to reclaim the roads of Bermuda, according to Senator Michael Dunkley.The One Bermuda Alliance Senate leader has hit out at drivers who disregard the safety of themselves and others by repeatedly breaking the rules of the road. Sen Dunkley highlighted the dangers of Bermuda’s roads in the Senate on Wednesday as he discussed the Throne Speech.He said he supported Government’s plans to eliminate drinking and driving, but suggested the issue of road rage should also be addressed. Sen Dunkley said people’s driving habits in Bermuda were “unacceptable and not healthy”.He said: “It impacts the quality of all our lives. It’s just unbelievable and we have got to stop the rot. We as a society pay for this, we pay the price. We need a bit more of an impact when it comes to road safety.”Sen Dunkley said they could talk about bad driving habits “all day long” as “everyone sees it all the time”. He said the situation had got so bad that people had “little empathy” for friends and family members when they heard the circumstances of accidents. Sen Dunkley said people were walking around with broken bones or hobbling around on crutches because they were “overtaking on a corner and thought they could make it, or talking on a cellphone”.He said: “We can do better than this. We have to send the message that enough is enough. Let’s take our roads back, let’s uphold the rules of the road.”Sen Dunkley said the Government and police should work together to get tough on those who flout the laws of the road. He said it would mean that everyone would have to be ready to face the consequences of being punished if they broke the law.Sen Dunkley said if he was caught speeding himself, even it was just a few km over the legal limit, he said: “Book me, damn it.”He even went as far as to say one of the reasons why tourists weren’t coming to the Bermuda was because of the modes of transport. He said visitors were unable to rent a car, everyone advised them against renting scooters and “we can’t get parts for our buses”.“What are visitors supposed to do?” he questioned before suggesting their safest mode of transport was probably taxis.