specific traffic incidents in which they have been involved. That tells us that road users are increasingly fed-up with the conditions on Bermuda's roads.

People who try to drive sensibly, and there are many, are increasingly angered by the dangers placed on them and on their passengers by poor driving and bad road habits. The situation does not appear to improve in any way and as the visitor season approaches it will again be complicated by increased taxi use and visitors on mopeds. We have had a winter during which we were promised some action but, once again, very little has happened.

Now there are serious suggestions that stop signs and traffic lights are being ignored and it appears that there is a good deal of bad driving and lack of courtesy on the roundabouts. A fair number of people are injured in traffic accidents but the wonder is that the figures are not a good deal higher.

Where are the traffic cameras that we were promised would slow traffic and identify offenders? There is a committee which is supposedly studying road conditions under the direction of the Road Safety Council. We do not know where it is in its deliberations but it certainly needs to hurry. Road conditions affect the quality of life in Bermuda of every one of us and if we are to create a more caring society we have to deal with the frustrations and anger created by some drivers, some not all.

In other places road rage has become a part of life and it can and will happen here in Bermuda if we do not move soon. Once someone sets an example of retaliation at the scene of an accident then road rage will grow and once it starts it will be very difficult to combat. What it means is that people take the law and retribution into their own hands because they are frustrated and feel that is the only way they can respond or get action.

It is clear that some of the individuals causing problems are suspended drivers who simply ignore their court order and go on driving. In other cases people see vans and trucks belonging to well known companies being driven badly and the companies have to take some responsibility for not having the roads abused or their reputation sullied by their employees. Some offenders are taxi drivers who earn their living from driving but sometimes seem to think that the roads belong to them and no-one else.

Some of the problem is the lack of driver education and especially re-education for those who have committed major offences.

But much is due to a "me'' attitude which means that the drivers will do as they please no matter what the dangers. Road users see the latter every day with young cyclists who dart in and out of traffic at high speeds. Lately they have taken to passing lines of traffic on the inside thus ignoring their own safety or to riding on the sidewalks in order to get to the head of a line of traffic.

No wonder people who try to respect the rules of the road are getting angry and frustrated.