Senators yesterday approved a Transport Ministry order allowing the use of a new breath analyser to detect drunk drivers.

While Opposition members supported the measure, they questioned whether some accused drunk drivers had escaped justice because the breath analyser had been in use before being approved.

"One cannot help but wonder how it is that something as simple as this has taken so long to get here," said United Bermuda Party Senator Leonard Santucci.

He added that people with access to a good lawyer would probably beaten the charge of drunk driving.

"It's our responsibility to highlight the slowness of how long things take place. You don't bring much (legislation), so if you do bring something good, why not bring it faster?"

Attorney General Senator Larry Mussenden said that the order had been delayed to ensure that the machine being referred to was properly identified.

He added that the courts have applied a "common sense approach" and recognised that a legal lacuna existed.