Police and Government last night renewed their calls for safer driving after the third young Bermudian in 11 days was killed on the Island's roads.

Alshe Caisey, 20, died in the early hours of Sunday after the bike on which she was a passenger crashed at high speed on North Shore Road, Smith's.

The driver, who Ms Caisey's family said was her best friend, suffered a broken leg and was being treated in King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

Ms Caisey and the driver were among a group of six bikers travelling at high speed east along North Shore Road just after 2 a.m. when the accident occurred.

Police say the driver, who has not been named, lost control of the cycle, resulting in him striking an object on the left hand side of the road, leading to Ms Caisey's death.

Ms Caisey's family yesterday appealed for drivers to slow down, and revealed the last words the dead woman's mother, Nell Caisey, spoke to her daughter were to warn her to take her time on the road.

Six-year-old Tyaisha Cox was killed after she was hit at a pedestrian crossing in Warwick on August 7, and on August 13 Lloyd Dellano Burch, 24, died when his bike hit a car as he tried to overtake another vehicle in Somerset.

Ms Caisey's death brings the number of people killed on Bermuda's road to nine this year.

The dead girl's aunt Michelle DeSilva said Ms Caisey was a distant cousin of Mr. Burch, who died last Wednesday.

Ms Caisey's father Allan just returned to the Island at lunchtime yesterday from a football tour in Canada to discover his daughter had been killed.

Yesterday, Ms DeSilva told The Royal Gazette: "Just take your time because after this week we've had three people killed.

"We've a lot more young people on the roads, and the last thing her mama told her was 'Alshe, make sure you guys take your time on the roads'."

She said Alshe, a graduate of Berkeley Institute, who lived in Slip Road, St. George's, was an extremely popular girl who had "hundreds" of friends.

"She was an easy-go-lucky girl who was extremely well-liked. She had hundreds of friends and everyone liked her," she said.

The driver of the bike was Alshe's best friend. Ms DeSilva said the family did not want his name revealed yet because "he is taking it very badly".

Alshe's grandmother Pamela Pace said: "She had lots of friends. She was a loving girl with a beautiful personality, always smiling and always nice to people.

"She had a lot of friends, guys and girls. Twenty years old - it's a wasted life."

Transport Minister Dr. Ewart Brown yesterday renewed his call for safer driving and said he would be reintroducing legislation to make helmets safe.

And Bermuda Police Service spokesman Dwayne Caines said parents and churches also had to get involved to teach young people about the dangers of speeding.

Dr. Brown said: "Three families have suffered unimaginable loss over the course of these past several days and it pains me greatly that it appears that greater care and more attention might have seen these tragedies prevented.

"There is only so much the Government and the Police can do to preserve the safety of our residents on the roads; the motoring public must play their part in addressing the behaviours which lead to such unfortunate events.

"This Government will do what we can and, accordingly, the Ministry of Transport, in consultation with the Police, are actively considering a suitable means of addressing the issues presented by the circumstances surrounding the death of little Tyaisha Cox.

"Our children and all pedestrians must be safe on the roads and we will, where necessary, take steps to ensure that this is so."

Dr Brown said he will re-introduce legislation for minimum safety standards for helmets.

But he added: "Mark my words, the best helmet cannot protect he who would not do up the straps. Sometimes it is the simple things that save lives.

"We have a speed limit in this country more honoured in the breach than in the observance, so please Bermuda, slow down."

Acting Premier Eugene Cox last night said "the whole of Bermuda is very saddened by this tragic event."

He added: "Certainly the Government will take whatever step to try to eliminate this trend. The Government is very concerned and will be trying to address this."

Police spokesman Mr. Caines said: "Bermuda Police Service is renewing its call to people to operate their vehicles in a manner that is consistent with our laws.

"Once again, we have lost another young Bermudian to our roads and it is something we believe must stop.

"Bermuda Police Service and Bermuda Road Safety Council have had a consistent message stating what we are going to do to increase our visibility on the roads, however, the message seems not to be being heeded certain members of our community.

"We are calling on parents, community leaders and churches to talk to young Bermudians about speed, and speed being a killer.

"We've lost three young Bermudians in under 11 days on our roads and this must stop.

"We are appealing for the young men that were in that group of riders to come forward. We would like to talk to you so please get in contact. It would be better for you to come forward to us than for us to come looking for you."

He urged the riders in the group or anyone who witnessed the accident to call PC Foggo on 299-4265 or 334- 8861.