directly linked to road safety education and could lead to compulsory driver tuition in schools, it has been claimed.

Transport Minister Dr. Ewart Brown was backed by the Road Safety Council and BF&M Insurance Group when he said the fall in bike fatalities had to be linked to the rise in the number of young people taking riding lessons.

At the launch of the Road Safety Council's Project Ride annual raffle yesterday, the Government minister urged high school students to take advantage of free driving lessons, which could save their lives, as well as lead them to win a brand new bike.

The safety council has been organising free riding instructors to work with every school to offer students aged 15-and-a-half and above a 12-hour riding course, culminating in a test and certificate.

But it hopes that the lessons will become part of Bermuda's national curriculum within the next few years.

However, the introduction of Project Ride's free bike raffle last year has seen more and more pupils take advantage of the tuition, resulting in a dramatic fall in deaths.

In 1998, there were 18 bike fatalities on the Island. In 1999, that reduced to ten. Up to the end of July this year, there had only been two motorcycle deaths.

But Dr. Brown said one death on the roads was too many.

He added: "In 1998, there were 168 people who received Project Ride certificates and in 1999 that number was more than tripled.

"We like to link that to the reduction in road cycle fatalities.'' Roxanne Christopher, road safety officer for the safety council, said there was no doubt that the figures were related.

"Education is the major key to reducing the number of accidents on the roads,'' she said.

"We got Project Ride off the ground because of a culmination of accidents over the years.

"We felt that we had lost a generation on the roads, and something had to be done. Fortunately, the number of motorcycle fatalities is reducing.

"Years ago it used to be the case that young people were more likely to be involved in road accidents than anyone else. Now, that is not the case. It is the 40-year-olds. Our young people are riding safely.

"We are working towards compulsory drivers' education, as they have in some other countries.'' Every school has riding instructors that will offer tuition free to students in their final years.

Those who pass the 12-hour course and have a certificate, can enter the draw to win a free 50cc bike. Other winners will receive bike locks and helmets.

The raffle is sponsored by BF&M Insurance Group, and people still have time to take the course and get their application for the draw in by October 24.

Miss Christopher added: "Project Ride has been taught successfully for 12 years now and had graduated well over 3,000 students.

"What this means to our small Island community is over 3,000 well-educated drivers on our roads, which we believe results in a better, more conscientious road user.'' Glen Gibbons, Vice President of BF&M Insurance, added: "There has been quite a lot of discussion about the need for compulsory drivers' education in our schools.

"Last year we endorsed such a move, should Government decide to proceed with it. Until then, we will lend our sponsorship to the Road Safety Council for this initiative.'' Anyone interested in taking tuition should contact the instructors at their high school.

The winner of the draw will have a choice of three bikes to choose from. The HWP Group, Wheels Cycles and World Distributors have each offered a cycle to the competition, which the winner can choose from.

Road to success: Vice president of BF&M Insurance Glen Gibbons ( from left) with Transport Minister Ewart Brown, chairman of the Road Safety Council Pandora Wright, and safety officer Roxanne Christopher at the launch of the raffle yesterday.

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