The crusade for drug and alcohol testing of drivers involved in accidents won backing yesterday from a Government Minister.

Public Safety Minister the Hon. Quinton Edness also called for widespread drug testing throughout the community.

He said: People whose jobs involve public safety should be subjected to mandatory testing. These include Policemen, firemen, bus drivers and prison officers; Testing should be carried out in workplaces and schools whenever it was suspected someone was on drugs; and Politicians should take a lead by putting themselves forward for testing.

"I believe there should be drug programmes throughout Government,'' said Mr.

Edness, also Labour and Home Affairs Minister.

"I am quite prepared to be an example and submit myself to a test.'' Yesterday, a Police spokeswoman backed testing of drivers involved in smashes.

"It is no secret that the Police Commissioner Mr. Colin Coxall is very concerned about road accidents in Bermuda,'' said Insp. Roseanda Jones.

She also supported mandatory testing of Police officers, while accepting this could pose human rights problems. "I would be more than happy to be tested myself.'' Mr. Edness's comments follow calls from the Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse (CADA), Bermuda Medical Society, and Road Safety Council for drug and alcohol testing of drivers involved in accidents.

The Medical Society had put forward the proposal last week. It had also recommended random testing of other drivers, and that cyclists use headlights during the day.

Another idea was graduated licensing, which involves drivers receiving increased privileges based on their records.

"I fully support the Medical Society,'' said Mr. Edness, adding, "I also agree there should be mandatory testing in areas where public safety is at risk.

"For instance, with bus drivers we don't want somebody high on drugs driving a busload of children. This country will not tolerate that.'' Mr. Edness said in the past he had encouraged the Prisons Commissioner to introduce mandatory testing for officers.

"I also feel there should be testing for cause throughout workplaces and schools.

"This means there should be testing of individuals whose behaviour is indicative of drug or alcohol abuse.'' Mr. Edness said companies were beginning to introduce drug programmes for employees.

"We need to do more, however. We need to be more active.'' Yesterday, Insp. Jones welcomed the idea of testing drivers involved in crashes.

She said currently Police could not test for drugs -- without the person's consent.

"To tell the truth, not many people are willing to agree to such a test.'' Insp. Jones said Police often experienced problems in testing accident victims for alcohol.

This was because tests had to be carried out within two hours -- but the first priority was for the victim to receive hospital treatment, she explained.

"Often the treatment takes longer than two hours, which means we are not able to test for alcohol.'' Insp. Jones said the Police would benefit if victims under the law could be tested by hospital staff.

She also supported the Medical Society's call for cyclists to use headlights.

"I believe it should be mandatory, but even if it does not become mandatory cyclists should be encouraged to use their headlights.''