death records in response to this month's spate of traffic fatalities.

Mr. Ramadhin Smith hopes to find out the major causes of the accidents and make them public in a new road safety awareness campaign.

The move comes a day after Bermuda recorded its latest fatal road accident victim, 26-year-old British accountant Mr. Graham Cumming.

"We are very concerned that we are off to a bad start this year and want to do all we can to avert further fatalities,'' said Mr. Smith, who took over the post this year from Mr. Kim Swan.

"We have already reached nearly half the total for 1993.'' He noted the results of road death inquests were often not heard until at least one to two years later.

"We want to try and get access to those details now, by working closely with the Police and Coroner's office, to determine the major causes of the fatal accidents and then enlighten the public.'' Police spokesman P.c. Gary Venning did not believe the three road deaths signalled "a trend for a horrendous number of fatalities this year''. They could be a coincidence and did not guarantee road deaths would be high for the year, P.c. Venning said.

Nevertheless, Police Commissioner Mr. Lenny Edwards issued a safety warning to road users.

And he indicated enforcement of traffic laws would be stepped up. "The Commissioner deeply regrets that there have been three fatal accidents in such a short space of time and extends his sympathies to the families of those involved,'' P.c. Venning said. "But he does not consider this necessarily to be a trend.

"However, he encourages drivers to drive with safety and concern for other road users at all times.

"And he said Police officers would endeavour to encourage good driving habits by enforcing laws and being present to make sure people conform to the laws in relation to observing signs and keeping to the speed limit.'' Mr. Smith said his Road Safety officer would research road accident fatality reports for the last 10 years to determine the major contributory factors in the crashes.

The results would be made public.

Mr. Smith, whose father died in a road crash, urged motorists to take extra care on the roads and lower their speeds.

"If everyone reduced their normal travelling speed by only 5 kph even those drivers who insist on dangerously overtaking will not need to go as fast to overtake,'' he said.

"Additionally if you are planning to consume alcohol, make plans for an alternative to driving, such as using public transport or a designated driver.'' Mr. Smith said that as Road Safety Council chairman he wanted to "bring the matter of road safety to the fore''.

The owner of Bermuda Coatings and a UBP candidate in the last election, Mr.

Smith said Bermudians tended to think they owned some roads and sidewalks. And they were often not cautious enough or tolerant enough on the roads.

He noted many of the road accidents resulted in serious head injuries. When his father suffered his road accident, crash helmets were not mandatory. Mr.

Smith was 13 years old at the time.

The latest road crash victim died in hospital after a road accident in the early hours of Sunday morning. Mr. Cumming, 26, sustained head injuries after his cycle struck a lamp post on Ord Road.

It was the second fatal accident last weekend involving a single motorcyclist colliding with a post.

On Saturday, Mr. Chrys Carwell Richardson's motorcycle hit a pole on Middle Road, Southampton.

The 21-year-old trucker died in the intensive care unit also as a result of head injuries.

P.c. Venning said the accidents were under investigation. The weekend before, Mr. Sherman Benjamin, 39, died after colliding with a taxi at the junction of North Shore Road and Store Hill in Smith's Parish. It is understood he had attempted to overtake the taxi as it turned right.

Seven people died on Bermuda's roads last year and six were killed in 1992, P.c. Venning noted.

In 1989 and 1990, road accidents rose sharply, to 15 and 13.

He said the most common causes were inattention and inexperience on the roads.

MR. RAMADHIN SMITH -- `We want to do all we can to avert further fatalities.'