Residents have joined the call for abandoned vehicles to be cleared off Bermuda's roads more efficiently.

They backed comments made by Shadow Education Minister Tim Smith in the House of Assembly on Friday that too many motorcycles and cars were being allowed to sit and rot both on private and public land.

He said whether it was because the owners did not have the physical and financial means to remove them, or because they had just been abandoned, he did not know, but he asked what the process was for getting vehicles removed and what steps could be taken to help residents get discarded vehicles towed away safely.

Mr. Smith said: "There are abandoned vehicles in every parish. I have two concerns. One is to do with their plain unsightliness.... and the other is safety."

He said he feared children may use the abandoned vehicles as playgrounds and end up hurting themselves.

Referring to Works and Engineering Minister Alex Scott, he said: "I would ask the Minister if he will consider allowing members of the public to get abandoned vehicles removed free of charge."

Mr. Smith said then the vehicles could be taken to a proper dump site, rather than left discarded in the street.

Yesterday, Nicola DeSilva, from Southampton, said she was eager to find out what the process was for reporting abandoned vehicles.

She said she had called the Police three times to report a vehicle that had been left on Church Road in Southampton four weeks ago, but said the vehicle remained there.

Mrs. DeSilva said: "I have complained to the Police and I certainly know other people have, too, but the car is still sat there on the road.

"I would just like to know who I should report the car too. I'm hearing today that it is supposed to be Government.

"The car has been left there on the road, and it is not only an eyesore, I'm concerned another driver is going to crash in to it at night, especially at this time of year when people are known to drink and drive more. "Children also walk along this road to school and they have to walk around the car to get past. It's dangerous."

And a woman in Middle Road, Southampton, complained about a motorcycle that had been left abandoned next to the bus stop near to the Jehovah's Witness church for about a month.

The resident, who did not wish to be named, said: "It just looks bad. I live nearby and I think it looks unsightly, and it must look pretty bad to our tourists, too. I have seen a number of bikes abandoned along Middle Road at various times."

Mr. Scott told the House of Assembly that it was not the responsibility of Works and Engineering to simply tow abandoned vehicles away.

He said it was the responsibility of the Transport Ministry, but he said a process had to be followed first.

Mr. Scott said anyone wishing to report an abandoned vehicle should call the the Transport Ministry with details. The ministry would then place a sticker on the vehicle for about three or four weeks to inform the owner that unless it was removed, it would be carted away.

If, at the end of that period, the vehicle is still there, then Works and Engineering will be called in to remove it.

And he said his department would not be held responsible if the vehicle was damaged at all in the removal process, should the owner later try to retrieve it.

Mr. Scott suggested anyone wishing to report an abandoned vehicle should call the Transport Ministry on 295-3130.