The Bermuda Road Safety Council has recruited nine young people to talk about the importance of careful driving.

The new members of the Junior Road Safety Council will be at the forefront of campaigns and programmes aimed at protecting young new motorcyclists.

Dennis Lister III, the chairman of the Bermuda Road Safety Council, said: “The Junior Road Safety Council is not just an organisation — it is a movement driven by the passion and dedication of our youth to create safer streets and instil responsible road behaviour from an early age.”

The Junior Road Safety Council will be open to individuals aged between 15 and 20 years.

Their aim will be to promote safe riding and driving in schools.

Marley Brown, from the Bermuda Institute, will act as the council chairwoman, while Dion Francis, from Cedarbridge Academy, will be the deputy chairman.

S’Niyah Lightbourne, also from the Bermuda Institute, will serve as the group’s treasurer, and Daylen Francis as secretary.

Mr Lister said that the programme will help members to strengthen their creative and leadership skills while spreading important messages.

He added: “In a world where road safety is of paramount concern, where engagement and commitment of our youth is critical, they are not only the leaders of tomorrow, but the influences of today, actively shaping the narrative around responsible road use.

“They are ultimately ambassadors to their peers about road safety.”

Marty, 16, said that she joined the Junior Road Safety Council because she wanted to “be a part of the change that we need”.

She explained: “I realised that our roads are really bad — there are a lot of accidents happening on our roads, and they’re very unsafe.”

Marty said that she had never been the chairwoman of an organisation and was excited to take on the challenge.

She said that her goal as chairwoman was to spread awareness of the importance of safe driving and show that young people do care about road safety.

S’Niyah, also 16, said that she joined as a way to help the community at large.

She said: “People don’t really take road safety seriously, especially at a young age.

“A lot of people just want to have fun, but they don’t focus on the safety.”

S’Niyah added: “Maybe this can help awareness and let people know you can still have fun and be safe at the same time.”

S’Niyah said that she could bring her past knowledge as a treasurer for her student body, as well as her team-working skills from her time as a class representative.

She added that she could bring some creativity to the role, which she said could help to create a stronger campaign.

Daylen, 18, said that he sees the campaign as an opportunity to protect his family.

He explained: “The roads are extremely dangerous. I see people speeding everywhere and running red lights, so I’m just looking out for my family.”

Mr Francis admitted that, before the campaign, he did not believe his peers would take road safety seriously until they got hurt.

He added: “I don’t want to see them get into that accident, so I just think that I should do as much as I can right now.”

Mr Francis said this was his first time in a group like this and said it was a “big step” for him.

He added that he believed he could have “a really big impact on people’s lives” through the initiative.

Wayne Furbert, the Minister of Transport, said that road traffic accidents have increased “significantly” over the past five years.

He added: “Sadly, some road users’ behaviours have not improved, leading to hazardous driving on our roads.

“This programme is an excellent way to bridge the gap between students, the Road Safety Council and the broader community to promote safe riding and driving practices.”

Mr Furbert noted that speeding is the main cause of accidents in Bermuda and that the chance of accidents happening is higher when coupled with impaired, dangerous or distracted driving.

“We must commit to being responsible road users, ensuring that Bermuda remains a haven of safety and harmony with all.”