A Bermudian husband and wife are unable to stay with family in Massachusetts due the state’s refusal to accept Bermuda driving licences.

Eric Bell’s son and his family live 60 miles away from Boston, and Mr Bell and wife Carol need to hire a car to visit them.

Mr Bell said: “They live 60 miles west of Boston so we try and visit them every year, but without the ability to drive it is not feasible,”

The couple, who hold only island licences, were last year unable to make the trip to Shrewsbury, where they stay at a hotel and get around by rental car.

Mr Bell said his son had offered to loan him a car. But he said: “It’s not just about having a car. If my licence isn’t valid, what would happen if I got stopped by police or had an accident? I’d get locked up.”

Mr Bell has lived in Bermuda since he was 18 and said he never had the chance to get a licence from any other country.

The Bermuda Ministry of Transport said clearing the roadblock will take “ongoing dialogue with overseas authorities and further Cabinet discussion for the new Government”.

A spokesman said: “The Ministry is committed to bringing this issue to a conclusion as soon as possible, but it will require reciprocal arrangements with other countries by way of treaty extension.”

Massachusetts’ decision to refuse to recognise Bermuda licences hit the headlines a year ago.

The Ministry of Transport said at the time it was “committed to working towards an expeditious solution” with Government House and the United States Consulate General.

But the year-long driving ban for Bermudians has affected residents who study in the state or who need to travel there for medical treatment.

The reasons behind the Massachusetts decision are unclear and it is feared the ban could in theory be adopted by other states.

But the fact that Bermuda does not recognise foreign driving licences is understood to have played a part in the hard line from Massachusetts.

Mr Bell said that was confirmed when he contacted Government House.

And the US Consul General’s office in Bermuda said: “Essentially, the problem stems from the fact that Bermuda has never signed any international treaty that provides driving privileges abroad for its citizens, nor has it made arrangements to come under the UK’s signature on the UN treaty governing driving reciprocity.

“These treaties provide the framework for citizens to be allowed to drive in countries other than their own. “

Mr Bell added that the island’s Transport Control Department had suggested applying online for an international driver’s permit, which is recognised if accompanied by a valid licence.

According to the US Department of Motor Vehicles, the permit, which is different from an international driving licence, is valid for one year.

• Have you had success driving in Massachusetts with the international driver’s permit? Share your experience at news@royalgazette.com.