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Artists pair up for 'Chopped and Screwed'

Last week my column was about encouraging young people to avoid doing drugs. I doubt that people were listening.

This week I wish to encourage young people to be more careful on the roads. We have had yet another serious motorcycle accident this week and the trend does not seem to be abating. I feel for any parent who loses a child, having lost one myself, but it is absolutely terrible when a child dies from an avoidable vehicle accident.

More on this after The Top 20.

Climbing to number one is Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It) by Beyonce. This is without a doubt the hottest song and video of the moment. Wait until you hear the house mix.

Tumbling to number two is Miss Independent by Ne-Yo, the hottest love song of the moment and DJ LT's current fave.

Tripping to number three is the hip and cool new track by John Legend and Andre 3000, entitled Green Light.

Up to number four is Live Your Life by T.I. featuring hot girl and Bajan bombshell Rihanna.

Falling to number five is Whatever You Like by T.I.

In the number six spot is the new hit from Ne-Yo, entitled Closer.

Falling to number seven is Mrs. Officer by my namesake Lil Wayne featuring Bobby Valentino and Kidd Kidd, one of the hottest songs around and a former essential new tune.

Up to number eight is the new one from Jazmine Sullivan entitled Bust Your Windows. I'm thinking that as a guy I'm not supposed to like this track because to do so might suggest that I am playa hating, which I definitely don't do! However, this sister can flat out sing and it is a beautiful piece of music that is a change from most modern urban, contemporary music. I'm thinking that this song could have done well in the 1970's when music was really awesome and musicians and producers had to really be on top of their game to get any recognition.

Down to number nine is Dangerous by Kardinal Official, from Canada, featuring Akon. This one rocked in the summer and is a hit, but there are other newer and now hotter tracks on the market.

Slipping to number ten is Jennifer Hudson's monster new hip-hop track, Pocket Book, a duet with Ludacris, which is just a banging track.

Climbing to number 11 is Right Here by Brandy, which is currently number one in a few dance and club play charts.

At number 12 is Don't Call Me Baby by Kreesha Turner.

Tumbling to number 13 is current dance anthem Disturbia by hot girl Rihanna.

At number 14 is Get Up by Gospel Sister Duo Mary Mary.

I Hate This Part, by the sexiest group of ladies around, the Pussycat Dolls, hangs on to the number 15 spot.

Now some new hits.

On the way up at number 16 is Chopped and Screwed by T-Pain featuring Ludacris, this week's essential new tune.

Up at number 17 is Trading Places by Usher.

Jumping to number 18 is Sandcastle Disco by Solange, Beyonce's little sister who was here for our very own 2008 Bermuda Music Festival.

Spotlight, by former American Idol songstress Jennifer Hudson tumbles to number 19.

Slipping to number 20 is She's Royal by Taurus Riley.

Now back to this week's words: better safety on the roads.

The time may have come for people to try to take decisions away from young road users. This is extremely draconian and, in my opinion, doesn't really address the issue - speeding, careless and wreckless driving.

The following statement will come across as being contradictory - you can speed without being wreckless and careless. That being said, however, given the amount of traffic on the roads and the margin for error when you are speeding - your chance of getting hurt or hurting someone else is greater when you are speeding. Therefore, it is good to slow down and I, too, must heed my own advice!

No parent should ever have to bury their own child! I can speak from personal experience - this is one of the most painful things a human being can ever experience. Thus, young people should bear this in mind when they are driving or riding on our roads. No parent wants to get a call at 4 a.m. to hear that their child has been in a terrible accident. No parent and no human being deserves that. Unfortuantely, this happens all too often, however, it really is avoidable.

I have a good friend who always says that life is about choices. He is absolutely correct, but sometimes people don't think about the consequences of their actions and others, like parents, end up suffering from the decisions made by their children!

I think of young men who were speeding and were paralyzed and confined to wheelchairs as a result of an accident. This is sad and you wish you could turn back the clock and change things for them.

It might be time for our politicians to save road users from themselves. This will be unpopular for some but if it saves the life of one person, visitor or local, then it will be worth it. You cannot place a value on someone's life and if draconian legislation or policy changes will save lives, they must be considered and if practical, implemented.

I think we could do a two-part piece on this and I may go into more detail on this next week. However, for now, all I can do is encourage people to slow down, pay greater care, caution and courtesy on the roads, stop using cellphones whilst driving, imploy defensive driving and try to make our roads safer.

Let's try to have no road fatalities in 2009. Is that too much to ask?

Peace...