More than 1,200 people have required treatment as the result of a road traffic collision so far this year.

According to statistics provided to the Road Safety Council by the Bermuda Hospitals Board, 1,251 people required medical treatment following traffic collisions in the period between January and September.

Of those, 126 were admitted to the Acute Care Wing and 23 were admitted to the Intensive Care Unit. Six of those injured and taken to ACU were aged 18 or younger. Ten people have been killed in road accidents in Bermuda this year.

Erica Rance Mill, the chairwoman of the council, said: “It is an astonishing figure given the speed limit and the number of people on the Island.

“These figures equate to about 139 people a month, or 34 people a week, being treated at the emergency department. Not only is the cost to the tax payer a concern so is the emotional, physical and financial toll these collisions take on the victims and their families.

“On top of that we have had ten deaths on the roads. Each life lost is one life too many. You have to ask whether people actually understand road safety and what good driving is really about.”

The RSC continues to call for roadside sobriety testing and the introduction of speed cameras around the island and has campaigned for the use of seatbelts, properly fastening helmets and further tackling of the issue of impaired driving.

Mrs Rance Mill added: “It takes a few seconds to make sure helmets are fastened, that seatbelts are on. It takes milliseconds to make a conscious decision to drive safely on the roads and to obey the laws.”

“Those few seconds could save a life — yours or someone else’s. The figures outlined here should come as a shock and numbers do not lie.

“We know that these figures alone will not be enough to persuade people to drive more safely and we will be increasing our Arrive Alive campaign over the next few months leading up to the end of the year.”

She urged the public to do their part to prevent further collisions.

“We urge each road user to do their part to prevent these numbers from rising and to help make our roads safer for all users.

“Finally, we would also like to thank the BHB for partnering with us to provide the numbers that enable us to raise awareness.”