transport sector was long on rhetoric and disappointingly short on substance.

No-one disputes that Bermuda has transport problems at any number of levels.

Overcrowding on the roads has become a major problem at almost any time of day with the rush hours in and out of Hamilton being the worst, although it should be noted that many cities would love to have our problem as drivers in much of the rest of the world face much worse commutes.

For decades now, the Island has used mopeds as the main form of transport for visitors, but these days you are more likely to see visitors cowering at the side of the road as buses and trucks roar past them than moving slowly along quiet byways as they explore the Island.

In the meantime, public transport remains inadequate for our visitors' needs while taxis are prohibitively expensive for any but the wealthiest visitor who wishes to sightsee.

Public transport is also inadequate for the needs of residents who may wish to use it for getting to and from work and for recreation.

Despite recent experiments on the Somerset ferry, the ferry system still fails to serve commuters who leave work much after 6 p.m., making it useless for many people whose departure from work is uncertain.

The Transport 2000 scheme will be a good start as Bermuda decides how to sort out its transport problems.

A single agency which coordinates all of the Island's transport needs is a good place to start and long overdue. For too long, different areas of transport have been contained in different Government departments, with the later reversed decision to move Marine and Ports to the Ministry of Tourism a prime example.

Despite the opposition of the Progressive Labour Party, ideas to privatise parts of the bus and ferry system should also be taken up; the private sector can determine where there are markets for public transport, leaving the Government to serve areas where there is a need which may not necessarily be profitable.

Where Government can and must play a part is in reducing the volume of traffic on the roads and making the roads safer for all users.

Better public transport should make access to Hamilton easier, but it needs to be combined with incentives for people to leave their cars at home. This could be done through higher parking fees in Hamilton, or by rewarding drivers who carpool.

Stiffer penalties for traffic offences and fixed speed cameras, as proposed by Government in its transport papers should all go some way to improving road behaviour. A public awareness campaign which demonstrates the real horror and disastrous effects of dangerous driving should help persuade drivers that getting from A to B at a moderate, instead of high speeds is worth it.

But Government needs to move quickly on this. As the death toll on the roads continues to rise, these reports should be acted on now.