Eight students are poised to re-shape Bermuda's traffic conditions by having the ear of Bermuda's youth.

Road Safety Council chairman Dr. Joseph Froncioni unveiled the Junior Road Safety Council (JRSC) recently and the organisation, still in its infancy, aims to re-educate youth on how to ride the roads.

Initial projects include a newsletter and website; short term goals include developing, participating and coordinating youth workshops.

One such workshop the group is looking forward to beginning, is the Smart Risk programme from Canada, which shows youth how to measure risks on the road.

Dr. Froncioni said the students all have an interest in road safety: "They will be our voice to the youth.

"They're all very bright, ambitious. All very busy during the school week so we meet on Saturday morning at 9,'' he said.

JRSC is composed of eight students, aged 15 to 17, chosen for their leadership potential and lead by 17-year-old CedarBridge student, Jamari Douglas.

Dr. Froncioni said their role will be more than the Road Safety Council's voice to Bermuda's youth.

"For the past couple of years I felt it was a very important function for us to reach out to the youth.

"To get on bikes with little or no training -- they are at greatest risk,'' said Dr. Froncioni and he said the JRSC will also be involved in the development of the graduated licensing scheme.

The programme will impose limitations on first-time riders, giving them time to adjust to the hectic pace of Bermuda's roads, said Road Safety Officer Roxanne Christopher.

JRSC members are: Chairman Jamari Douglas, William Usher from Berkeley Institute, Melanie Hitchcock and Jennie Gracie from Bermuda High School, Shammah Williams from Bermuda Institute, Sean Kelly from Mount Saint Agnes, Josh Masters from Saltus and Laura Rego from Warwick Academy.