The chairman of the Road Safety Council last night expressed his concerns about the continued loss of life on Bermuda's roads.

Speaking in the wake of the latest death crash ? which saw motorcyclist David Santucci killed in Warwick on Wednesday ? Dr. Christopher Johnson called for the recent Police traffic safety clampdown to be extended to evenings and weekends.

Mr. Santucci's death means that Bermuda now averages one road fatality a month for 2006.

With six weeks of 2006 left, this year's road death total is now the second highest since 1998. Only last year is higher when the Island had 13 traffic-related fatalities.

Dr. Johnson yesterday admitted these statistics were worrying ? and said the council was "disappointed" its recent high-profile campaign, featuring safety messages on television, radio and in newspapers, had not achieved the organisation's aim of "zero fatalities."

He said speed was a crucial factor in slashing accidents, and he hailed the recent Police traffic blitz for "slowing everyone down".

Dr. Johnson added: "It was brilliant. There was no 'third lane' riding and we had no accidents in the morning.

"I would love to find support in the Police to do that at night and on weekends, especially Fridays and Saturday evenings. I would like to see it done more often and it not be just a one off."

Scores of motorists were caught speeding on the first day of a Police blitz on traffic offenders last month.

The first morning of the new zero-tolerance clampdown saw 20 drivers caught travelling at speeds of 54 kph and faster, while 38 offenders hit speeds between 51 and 54 kph in rush hour.

Police drafted in more than 20 extra officers ? including plain-clothed CID cops ? to help tackle all motoring offences, from speeding to "third laning" on motorbikes. A total of 130 tickets were issued and Police said they would be highly visible on the roads for the "foreseeable future". Meanwhile, Dr. Johnson yesterday backed Government plans to phase in speed cameras. The new points-based system for driver disqualification was also supported by the safety council chief. "Of the people involved in accidents, most of them have been in accidents before," he commented. "So this is going to be really effective."

Dr. Johnson said the Road Safety Council would be meeting soon and was set to discuss calling on Government to either increase the number of traffic officers ? so the road safety crackdown can be extended ? or to re-introduce the force traffic unit.

Police last night again appealed for witnesses to the crash that killed Mr. Santucci, 52.

The Southampton resident was catapulted from his bike and pinned under a car after a collision with a turning vehicle, just before midday on Wednesday, at the junction of Middle Road and Longford Road, Warwick.

Witnesses should call P.c. Shameen Iqbal on 299-4265.