Collisions remain common despite police crackdown
The Bermuda Police Service said that despite stronger enforcement efforts, traffic collisions continue to plague the island’s roads.
Delivering the latest update on Operation Vega, Acting Superintendent Robert Cardwell said that increased traffic enforcement was the “main thrust” of the initiative launched with hopes of reducing collisions.
“Sadly, this is not the case currently, with between four and six collisions being reported daily,” Mr Cardwell said.
“In reality, human error plays a part in most vehicle collisions. Inattention, speeding and driving without due care and attention — all of these contributing factors are avoidable.
“A vehicle collision can be devastating and even minor collisions can be costly.”
In the first half of the year, 105 arrests were made for suspected driving while impaired, while 923 speeding tickets and 41 tickets for mobile devices were handed out.
The police have released the latest statistics for traffic offences for the year, covering the second quarter of 2024.
Impaired driving: 66 (up from 39 in Q1)
Speeding: 349 (down from 574 in Q1)
Disqualified driving: 20 (up from 17 in Q1)
Unlicensed vehicle: 123 (down from 127 in Q1)
No vehicle insurance: 82 (down from 93 in Q1)
No driver’s licence: 104 (down from 122 in Q1)
Manner of driving: 3 (up from 1 in Q1)
Failing to stop after an accident: 1 (down from 10 in Q1)
Failing to stop for police: 8 (up from 0 in Q1)
Mobile phone offences: 16 (down from 25 in Q1)
Fraudulent use of documents: 4 (up from 1 in Q1)
Helmet offence: 11 (down from 16 in Q1)
Seatbelt offence: 8 (down from 10 in Q1)
Defective vehicle: 3 (down from 7 in Q1)
Disobeying traffic sign: 81 (down from 97 in Q1)
Youth licence offence: 2 (up from 0 in Q1)
Licence plate offence: 3 (up from 2 in Q1)
Motorist advice notice: 216 (down from 273 in Q1)
Parking offences: 639 (up from 311 in Q1)
While the number of arrests for impaired driving offences fell compared with the same period last year, when 143 arrests were made, they were higher than the figures for 2022 and 2021.
Mr Cardwell said: “Those who choose to engage in this dangerous and illegal practice put not only their lives, but also the lives of everyone else on the road at risk.
“Without doubt, impaired driving increases the likelihood of a collision. Changing the impaired-driving culture in Bermuda requires all of us to take action.
“If you have been drinking, do not drive or ride.”
Mr Cardwell said that road safety in Bermuda must be taken seriously and the community must take responsibility for its driving behaviour.
He urged motorists to slow down, put away their phones, wear seatbelts, fasten helmets and to avoid driving while stressed or tired.
Mr Cardwell urged the public to reflect on their driving behaviour, adding: “The Bermuda Police Service remains steadfast in its mission to make Bermuda safer, including for everyone travelling on our roads.
“However, we continue to emphasise that policing is only one factor in the overall topic of road safety.”
While not all road traffic collisions are reported to the media, police have highlighted several incidents in recent weeks that have resulted in injuries.
Two motorcycle riders were injured last Thursday in a three-vehicle collision on North Shore Road in Devonshire.
Last Tuesday, police reported that three people were injured in a four-vehicle collision on South Road, near Horseshoe Road, while a motorcyclist suffered serious injuries in an unrelated two-vehicle collision the same morning.
The previous day, a motorcyclist and pillion rider visiting the island were hurt in a collision with a car in Warwick.
On June 22, police reported that a senior had been injured after a taxi driver lost control of his vehicle on Harbour Road and into Hamilton Harbour.
On June 17, a woman suffered non-life threatening injuries after she struck a wall on Harbour Road and ended up on the rocks at the Hamilton Harbour shoreline.
Other recent incidents included a three-vehicle Harbour Road collision on June 14, a car bursting into flames after a collision on June 9, a van driver crashing through a barrier in Devonshire after a medical incident on June 4 and a visitor going over an embankment on a scooter on June 2.