A top realtor has claimed that the Government is putting Bermudians in legal jeopardy by failing to resolve an international driving dilemma.

Over the past decade, Bermudians have reported difficulty renting vehicles in countries such as the Azores, the United States, Canada, Iceland and Japan.

The issue has been overseas authorities failing to accept a Bermuda driving licence.

There are rumours that some Bermudians have even ended up before the courts in the Azores for driving without a valid licence.

“In some places we fly in and we tell the rental agency we are a British colony and they tick Britain as our residence,” said Brian Madeiros, chief executive and president of Coldwell Banker Bermuda. “That is still wrong. Our licence is invalid everywhere.”

The problem is linked to Bermuda’s failure to sign an international treaty, the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic, drawn up to standardise international road safety rules.

Mr Madeiros questioned if residents’ overseas insurance would hold up if they were in a serious traffic accident, or caused injury to someone else.

In 2020, The Royal Gazette published a letter from barrister Peter Sanderson stating:

“Most seriously, someone could find themselves personally liable for a major compensation claim abroad in the event of an accident, and it transpiring that insurance was invalid because of the driver not having a valid licence.”

It is understood that one of the reasons Bermuda has not signed the agreement is that the island would have to, in turn, rent cars to tourists.

Mr Madeiros said this rationale is no longer valid, because we now rent small electric cars to Bermuda’s visitors, after requesting a valid driving licence from them.

He said given this change in the situation, it is time to revisit the treaty.

“This needs to be addressed,” he said.

The Government last spoke about the issue in 2017. Questions about progress on the matter, put to the Ministry of Transport in June, and again more recently, have been met with silence.

The One Bermuda Alliance Shadow Minister of Transport has also not answered questions about it.

Mr Madeiros admitted he could see some reasons for the island not signing the global reciprocal agreement.

“Our roads are very challenging,” he said. “Even if you live here, the roads are getting worse. Secondly, we have taxi drivers who rely on people who cannot rent cars.”

However, he said, it is time for Bermuda’s political system to stop burying the issue.

“Ultimately, the Government is responsible for our wellbeing around the world,” Mr Madeiros said.

According to travel site Global Debauchery, renting a car in the Azores is “pretty much a necessity”.

The website says: “The islands are rugged in a lot of areas and you’ll definitely be in sorry shape if you don’t rent a car for at least part of your trip. It’s also one of the best ways to totally immerse yourself in the beauty of the islands.”

Mr Madeiros, a frequent visitor to the Azores, says he is forced to hire a personal driver when he lands.