The Drive for Change campaign spearheaded by The Royal Gazette is to dedicate this month to the menace of speeding.

Statistics show that high speed is a major contributor to death and injury on island roads.

A report published by surgeon and road safety campaigner Joseph Froncioni said in the past two decades the average speed has risen from about 45km/h to 55km/h.

His 2015 Road Traffic Injuries in Bermuda: Truth Or Consequences added that the speed increase had resulted in a 67 per cent jump in road injuries and an 80 per cent jump in deaths.

One of the campaign’s main objectives is to have speed cameras installed across the island alongside other speed calming measures.

Britain has introduced a range of measures to reduce speed and now has one of the lowest rates of road deaths in the European Union.

Drive for Change has also called for tougher penalties for speeders, as fines are capped at $500 unless there is an additional charge of dangerous driving.

The Royal Gazette today kicks off Speeding Awareness Month with an interview with Jason Minors, who was paralysed after he broke his spine in a high-speed motorcycle crash.

Mr Minors, who had been a keen runner and footballer, considered suicide as he looked over the balcony outside a hospital room in America.

With the help of his family and faith, he pulled through and has since told his story to schoolchildren and written a book about his experiences.

Bermuda’s legal speed limit is 35km/h.

David Burt, the Premier, said in an interview last month that speed cameras had not been budgeted for this year.

He added: “It has to be balanced against all other priorities inside of our budget.”

•The Drive for Change campaign is designed to help build a case for the need for immediate speed calming measures and the rapid introduction of speed cameras. People can e-mail their own experiences to:driveforchange@royalgazette.com