It was the brutal Russian dictator, Josef Stalin, who said one death is a tragedy but a million deaths are a statistic. Eighteen -- the number of road deaths in Bermuda in 1998 -- is not much of a statistic, but if we convert our figures into UK or US terms our road deaths are truly awful. In 1997 there were 3,559 road deaths in UK, and 41,967 in the US. On a population basis, Britain is roughly 1,000 times bigger than Bermuda and the US 5,000 times.

This means that in British terms there was the equivalent of 18,000 road deaths in Bermuda, and in American terms 90,000.

Considering the higher speed limit and the longer distances people drive in those two countries, driving in Bermuda is clearly hazardous. If Bermuda Inc.

was an airline, we would have been grounded some time ago. Perhaps we should consider issuing a warning similar to that on cigarette packets when TCD licences are issued, or tourists should be warned that they are in jeopardy when travelling to Bermuda as our traffic manners are similar to what you would find in Venezuela or Brazil.

Words are as equally tricky as figures. Words are more powerful than is commonly thought as they are the tools through which we express our ideas.

Ideas have consequences which are expressed through our actions.

Using words without precision or incorrectly means ideas are not expressed clearly. The editorial in The Royal Gazette on January 11, whilst rightly concerned about the number of road deaths, spoke of them as "accidents''.

Indeed, most newspaper stories have consistently spoken of "accidents'' and I suspect most Bermudians also think of traffic deaths as "accidents''.

By definition, accidents are something that happens by chance. Traffic "accidents'' are a direct result of reckless or irresponsible behaviour using lethal weapons (motor vehicles) in which injury or death is a logical outcome.

Our road deaths are not "accidents'' but events which are foreseeable and have a predictable outcome. If we had as many deaths through food poisoning, I doubt if we treat that calamity as an "accident''.

We continue to wring our hands as the death toll gets higher and the authorities fail to manage the problem thinking, through a muddled use of words, that "accidents'' are unforeseen events. The Royal Gazette , usually a model of literary clarity, contributes to our confusion about road safety.

One way forward from our disastrous road manners is to think clearly about the issue -- muddy language arises from muddy minds. Our Stalinesque approach to road safety needs to be replaced with something more sensible. A good start might be to use statistics and words in a way which helps us understand that our terrible driving standards need to be improved otherwise many innocent people will continue to be maimed and lose their lives.

ROBERT STEWART Flatts Village A proud old boat January 9, 1999 Dear Sir, In your esteemed newspaper of January 6, Page 5, there is a very interesting article regarding the grounding of the 52-foot vessel at "Stonecrusher Corner'', Ferry Reach.

If my memory serves me correctly, this vessel is one of the two D.D.B.'s, as they were referred to, that is, Duty Diesel Boats, One and Two. Number One had a ring, painted black, around the smoke stack, about one foot from the top, and Number two, had two rings, and they were operated by Royal Naval Personnel. They were used as Courier Vessels between HMS Malabar (Commissioner's House) and Admiralty House (and sometimes to take sailors "ashore'' to Hamilton), along with the Banks , which originally belonged to the Trott Family, and the Moaning Low , later purchased by Raymond Baptiste of Devon Heights.

I was attached to the Royal Navy, seconded from the Bermuda Volunteer Engineers, from May, 1942 until September, 1945, and was at HMS Malabar for 14 months of this time. As I lived near Admiralty House, I used these vessels quite often to go to AH, when on leave, and to return to Malabar on the 2300 trip. On many calm nights, I would go out on the north side of our house at Tatem's Hill, a few minutes before 2300 (11 p.m.), and could actually "feel'' the throb of these powerful diesel engines, when they started up at the North Steps (the present Ferry Dock).

This was a signal for me to hop on my bicycle and ride, post haste, to Admiralty House Dock, to return to Malabar. If this vessel is one of the DDB's, I think it would be a pity to have it scrapped, as it is a part of our war-time history and I feel that it should be given to the Maritime Museum to be restored to its former condition, over a period of time, naturally. I am sure that the Museum have photos on file, of these vessels, and it could be restored with accuracy.

I vividly remember, on one occasion, DDB 1 and the Squadron Launch , a motor vessel of about the same length, were having a race from Dockyard to Hamilton to pick up sailors on the last run back to Malabar, at 2300. The tide was full and the Coxswain of the Squadron Launch , when approaching Two Rock Passage, decided to gain an advantage on the DDB, and went to the left (Port) side of the Passage -- the Squadron Launch was sitting on the reef which runs from Agar's Island to Two Rock, for five days, before it could be removed by the old tug The Sandboy , a paddle-wheeler, and the Coxswain was in The Rattle . I sincerely hope that this vessel can be salvaged and restored.

HERBERT J. TATEM City of Hamilton BTC all sour grapes January 20, 1999 Dear Sir, I vehemently disagree with the BTC's application to increase the local access charges, as a result, of the reduction of the long distance access charges.

BTC states Government has ordered this occurrence, which I also disagree with.

The FCC (US regulators) reserve the right to increase or decrease foreign access rates. Government has just merely complied to these regulations. My interpretation of this matter is that BTC has been illegally overcharging its customers this long distance fee for quite a while now and calling the $12 million as normal revenue.

It is absolutely ludicrous to apply for a 75 percent increase for any service, whether it be services rendered or goods for sale, etc. It is further incredible that this application is even considered... the normal living index rate is four percent... and to further apply for a further increase of 25 percent, just three months later is an insult to the intelligence of the Bermudian people.

I personally think that the FCC is absolutely correct in regulating these L/D access charges... there should be no complimentary offsetting charges, as over the years, these L/D charges have been illegally retrieved by the BTC.

They should be thankful for those years of revenue.

BTC, it appears, is another giant of a company that has enjoyed the monopoly of communications in Bermuda practically all of its business life. Now it's all about sour grapes, as that towards your fellow man. We need GOD in our lives... not excessive charges.

SCORPIO Somerset P.s. I further comment that if these charges are put into motion, then I suggest that some form of protest should be organised.