Yesterday's front page carried two fairly controversial stories.

One was on new measures being proposed by the Road Safety Council, including its plans to post extremely graphic pictures of road crash victims in bars and other public places in a last bid attempt to get people to take more care when they are driving.

The other story concerned CableVision's decision to stop running Channels 7 and 9 in a dispute over whether the cable carrier should pay Bermuda Broadcasting Company for carrying their channels.

Based on the responses this newspaper had yesterday, it is fair to say that the TV controversy has caused more outrage, which is remarkable.

Bermudians are clearly deeply attached to Young and the Restless, Oprah and the BBC's TV news.

Still, not everyone is upset. There are several people who are so tired of the poor service delivered by the BBC that they are glad to see them go.

Whoever is right, it is obvious that both companies are now engaged in a Mexican standoff, with CableVision gambling that the BBC will not be able to function without it and the BBC banking on the idea that viewers will abandon CableVision when they are no longer getting the local stations.

It is very difficult to know who is right.

What is somewhat surprising is that Government, which changed the broadcasting regulations in such a way so as to enable this fight to break out, has taken a hands-off approach to the whole problem.

That's in spite of the fact that the regulations seem to allow the Minister to settle disputes between companies when they cannot agree on a price.

Having said that, it is not entirely clear whether CableVision can be forced to carry the channels at a price determined by Government. It is clear that CableVision would fight it out with the courts, thus prolonging the agony.

In any event, at the moment, the market will decide. It will be interesting to see whether consumers turn either to WOW!, which is paying for the local stations, or will switch off CableVision, or if they will simply ignore the BBC stations and continue to stay with CableVision.

Road safety

Even though the television controversy has overshadowed the road safety advertisements, this newspaper thought long and hard before publishing the image published on the front page.

It is undoubtedly gruesome, and the other pictures that the Council proposes to run in its posters are equally graphic. We were aware that some people would be offended by it.

But the opposing argument is more compelling. Seventeen people died on Bermuda's roads last year and it is difficult to know what to do to stop any further needless deaths – and almost all the deaths are needless.

If publishing these photographs and posters save even one life, then it will have been worth it, and this newspaper will support any positive measures that will do that.

Some of the other ideas that the Road Safety Council is considering will help as well, even if some seem to be draconian.

We also recommend again that Government takes up all of the recommendations in the Froncioni report and implements them as a matter of urgency.

Finally, there has been a notable increase in the Police presence on the roads in recent weeks and that is to be welcomed. It should be continued and it should also be maintained 24 hours a day and not just during rush hour.