Major changes are on the horizon for drivers as the Government plans to totally revamp its motoring laws.

Transport Minister Dr. Ewart Brown revealed that the overhaul of the Motor Car Act could involve increasing the sizes of vehicles allowed, changing the way used cars are bought and sold, and possibly bringing in a graduated driver licensing scheme to improve road safety.

And Road Safety Council chairman Dr. Joseph Froncioni is hoping tougher driving tests and compulsory training could also be on the agenda for the Island's bike-riding youngsters.

A major meeting to discuss possible changes will be held in October, where motor industry stakeholders and the public can air their views.

Dr. Ewart Brown told The Royal Gazette yesterday: "We would increase vehicle sizes. Manufacturers are changing their specifications and their dimensions. We want to come up with a set of dimensions that will give the motoring public more choices and also ensure that the cars imported are safe."

Dr. Froncioni, who has long been pushing for tougher licensing procedures, welcomed the news and added he would also like to see the implementation of more stringent driving exams.

Dr. Brown added: "The aim of the October meeting will be to see if we can design a new Motor Car Act. The original act was written in 1951 and it has been amended to death. The time has come for a total redesign. You can keep amending forever and still not achieve the desired goals.

"We want to take a critical look at the existing law with an eye to producing a modernised version, We hope that by-products of this would be to reduce traffic and increase road safety."

He said increasing the specifications for vehicles sizes was one of the ideas expected to be included in an effort to "place the emphasis on choice and on relaxation, while enforcement in the interests of safety also plays a large part".

Currently, vehicles are legally required to be at most 169 inches in length and 67 inches in width, including bumpers.

The current Motor Car Act allows the Minister of Works and Engineering to approve only oversized vehicles which are "in the public interest".

Dr. Brown also said the revamp might include a tweaking of laws governing the buying and selling of second hand cars in an effort to tackle congestion.

"The current act is designed to force Bermudians to buy new cars and we would like to address that."

And he said the introduction of a graduated licensing system would be a major step towards ensuring road safety.

Dr. Froncioni added: "I think this is a very constructive approach. The Motor Car Act is old and tired and having a fresh look at it is a wonderful idea."

He explained that he would like to see the introduction of comprehensive courses for prospective road users.

"We want to revamp the whole way in which kids learn how to ride bikes. Bermuda is one place in the world where riders are allowed to go on the road without first being given proper instruction."

He said a graduated licensing scheme, which would involve new road users having to go through a two year course of provisional assessment before being given a license, should be accompanied by tougher practical examinations which might include the rider of a cycle being assessed by an instructor on another vehicle.

Dr. Froncioni said inexperience was the main factor that contributes to accidents on the Island's roads.

"Our new drivers are mostly young teenagers on the most dangerous form of transport ever. If these kids were to go through a two year programme they would devise a whole different set of safer driving habits.