Changing behaviour on the roads

Dr. Christopher Johnson was introduced as the new chairman of the Road Safety Council yesterday. Will he be able to make Bermuda's roads safer?

Some of the things that he said were encouraging. He wants us to start looking at driving as a privilege and not a right. He's in favour of stiffer penalties for bad driving (although Transport Minister Dr. Ewart Brown has previously ruled this out). And he acknowledges that educational campaigns rarely affect any long-term change.

However, he said that lessons should be mandatory before new guest workers can get a bike licence. That's fine, but why single out guest workers? Why not make lessons mandatory for Bermudians too?

I was also confused by his statement about changing behaviour. "Most of the accidents we see have to do with behaviour and can any of us really change the behaviour of a young man or woman who chooses to take risks or take alcohol and get on a bike or in a car?" he asked. "No. We can't really get inside their heads and change it. What we can do is get the message out there and it needs to be done on a frequent basis..."

I'm not quite sure what Dr. Johnson was getting at with this. What use is getting the message out if it doesn't lead to changes in behaviour?

I believe we can change behaviour. But it's going to require breathalysing more motorists on Friday and Saturday nights. It's going to require the introduction of speed cameras to catch and fine those who break the speed limit. It's going to require more police on the roads stopping and arresting those who are driving dangerously.

It's also going to require using our existing resources more effectively - which doesn't mean stationing four officers on Kindley Field Road at 8am, as there were this morning.

Comments

[Steve on 26.01.06 at 00:01]

PMSL...I ain't holding MY breath.

[Marcus on 26.01.06 at 05:10]

As someone who has done advanced Police trained bike courses in the UK, and rides a 996cc Honda Firestorm (And have tested it to an indicated 225.30 kph). The fact that people to can get bike licenses without a lesson, is a little scary. Also seeing the level of riding when I have visted is something else which is a tad worring.

After watching the bike tests at TCD I would have thought just getting people to do something similar to the CBT (http://tinyurl.com/ae6l8) would help levels of training a lot.

Obviously none of the above make me any more qualified to talk about the level of bike riding in Bermuda than anyone else. And I have bined the odd bike as well.

have fun

[sandgrownan on 26.01.06 at 08:49]

It puzzled me too why guest workers were singled out for attention. I agree they should be given instruction, but everyone should get instruction. Let me tell you as someone who has driven all over the world, that the standard of driving here is appalling. The general lack of respect and responsibility is staggering. And the worst drivers are Bermudians. He's right on one thing though, driving should be seen as a privilige, not a right.

[Combat Banker on 26.01.06 at 08:50]

I think the chairman's comment was made in the context that lessons are given in most schools to kids to teach how to ride a bike already. I believe he meant that Guest Workers should be taught as well to complement this. You know; not pick up any bad habits from us crazy locals!

Anyway, bring back the Railroad! Save us all from this crap!

[sandgrownan on 26.01.06 at 08:55]

Too right Combat.

[Phil on 26.01.06 at 09:01]

Combat

I think the chairman's comment was made in the context that lessons are given in most schools to kids to teach how to ride a bike already.

Former Road Safety Council chairman Dr. Joseph Froncioni was on the radio this morning talking about this. His beef with Project Ride (if that's what you're referring to) is that 1. it's not mandatory and 2. it "doesn't even scratch the surface" of what a comprehensive motorbike riding course should involve.

[Combat Banker on 26.01.06 at 09:07]

Stand corrected. Make it part of the curriculum then.

But still: We are only 25 sq miles, if practically the entire city of London can get to work by 'Tube' everyday, sure why can't we put in a monorail for the entire island to use?

[sandgrownan on 26.01.06 at 09:07]

But it's not so much about riding a bike as opposed to driving a car, it's about good road sense and etiquette.

You see all sorts of brainless activity - I saw a women parked at the side of the road letting her kids out of the back seats on the ROAD SIDE! Not the sidewalk, the ROAD SIDE of the car. Ignorant, brainless cow.

[Njegos on 26.01.06 at 09:31]

But it's not so much about riding a bike as opposed to driving a car, it's about good road sense and etiquette.

Is it my imagination or has tailgating become the national passtime? It's as if there is a giant magnet in the boot of my car.

[sleepy on 26.01.06 at 09:33]

Fans of the TV show Extreme Makeover may recognize our new Road Safety Council Chairman.

[Two Cents on 26.01.06 at 10:07]

"Fans of the TV show Extreme Makeover may recognize our new Road Safety Council Chairman".

Sleepy,
You can't make a post like that and give more details....be fair

[sandgrownan on 26.01.06 at 10:16]

It would be good if could just get bus drivers to slow down and once, just once, get them to drive with both hands on the wheel, instead of one resting on the change, token receptical thingy.

Then, stop taxi drivers driving pissed. Enforce the current laws vigourously, ticket EVERYONE who double parks on Queen Street, no tolerance and maybe, just maybe it will sink into everyone's heads.

[Wickering Banker :-) ----: on 26.01.06 at 10:42]

New people to Bermuda don't appear to me to be the ones who drive with no concern for anyone. After all, they've drive elsewhere where it is just not tolerated.

[Somers on 26.01.06 at 10:45]

" Enforce the current laws vigourously, ticket EVERYONE who double parks on Queen Street, no tolerance and maybe, just maybe it will sink into everyone's heads.
Posted by sandgrownan on 26.01.06 at 10:16"

Gasp! KFC would go under if you did that! ;)

[sleepy on 26.01.06 at 10:45]

Dr. Johnson was one of the plastic surgeons on the show. He has a practice in Berverly Hills or thereabouts, is very highly regarded but most importantly is quite a character.

Never a dull moment when he's around...he can party with the best of them.

[Fly Girl on 26.01.06 at 10:52]

There are way too many issues to deal with when it comes to Bermuda's roads, much too many too mention, but here are my pet peeves.

First, I think that the speed limit should be increased, as most drivers do drive at 30 mph. This would hopefully decrease the number of people overtaking. I guess except for those young ones, that will overtake regardless of how fast the average person is going and will overtake anywhere ie. blind corners.

Police should be out in full force over the weekend period, especially when the bars/nightclubs close. Maybe if they instituted some sort of system/help for people who have had a few drinks and don't want to drive home, ie. free shuttles or discount shuttles. I don't know, would this work?

Taxi, bus and truck drivers feel that they are in a different class altogether when it comes to the rules of the road. They all need to be more scrutinized.

Young people feel that they are invincible and they don't care about other users on the road. I would have thought that the Dejon Simmons documentary would have at least had some type of impact, but it really hasn't.

I could go on and on, but I'll give someone else a chance to vent.

[Wickering Banker :-) ----: on 26.01.06 at 10:53]

The Police need to park on East Broadway at 3am on Friday & Saturday and stop absolutely everyone who appears to be drunk - even if it causes a rush hour type of gridlock.

This is what they've done elsewhere in the world and people eventually learn that it is totally unacceptable to drive drunk.

Of course there would be a huge outcry by the public and they'd complain about the Police and their bully boy tactics. The Police presence would stop, and we'd return to normal.

[Bill Cook on 26.01.06 at 11:06]

Bermudians, if it is fair to generalise esp the young have very good reflexes and motor skills etc.

They have everything required to drive well and safely.

If however one is an asshole, who demonstrates the intellectual capacity of a Fruit Fly and has that rather uniquely Bermudian youth attitude, "Mr Coolism" full of arrogance, with respect for no one, this will be especially noticable on our roads, where his childish need to be noticed is catered to.

Add to that the drug and alcohol use and the fearful Police who apart from covering East Broadway on Easter Sunday morning catching those going to Church and are INVISIBLE otherwise you have a recipe for dangerous roads.

Why are not the general public allowed to assist the Police and traffic wardens by being allowed to ticket illegal parkers esp those outside the KFC which is a bad joke for years now bested only by our failure to collect over a million dollars in parking ticket fines !!

Female road users are generally speaking much safer.

[sandgrownan on 26.01.06 at 11:25]

Bill, I take great umbrage with the last line of your post. My mother has never had an accident, but she's seen hundreds.......

[Bill Cook on 26.01.06 at 11:37]

Sandy am I missing something ?

If she has never had an accident and she is a female obviously then she is a much safer driver ?

I dont mean she is safer from the bad driving of others, are you being facetious ?

Hope your umbrage is lessened somewhat !

[sandgrownan on 26.01.06 at 11:39]

Sorry Bill, it's an old joke..

[sandgrownan on 26.01.06 at 11:44]

Although to address you other point, Bermudians, especially the young do have good reflexes and motor skills. But so do folks elsewhere. The difference is whether or not they choose to use them, or whether or not they think it's acceptable to flout common sense, the rules of the road and behave liek a dickhead in the pursuit of being cool. It's a cultural thing. Coupled with poor policing we're screwed.

[Two Cents on 26.01.06 at 12:18]

The current gave $11,000,000 to help fund the National Cricket Team's World Cup Bid...was that necessary??

Given the great need for more Police personel on the streets dealing with traffic, accidents, speeders, etc in addditional to their crime fighting/prevention duties, I don't think that $11 Million was well spent at all.

By all means give the Cricket Team money, but the majority of that could have/should have gone to recruit additional policemen from overseas as we obviously are having too many problems recruiting locally. The average starting annual salary for a policeman is approx $50,000, even if they had given the Cricket Team ONLY $9 Million and the rest to the Police Service, that would have resulted in another 40 policemen on the beat, enforcing traffic, etc

[sandgrownan on 26.01.06 at 12:24]

Yet another fine example of PLP fuckwitery.

[Bill Cook on 26.01.06 at 12:24]

Two,

If the incompetents whose responsibility it is to collect the fines and traffic tickets did the job we pay them to do we would have millions more for more Police.

[Two Cents on 26.01.06 at 12:30]

"fuckwitery"

Sandgrowan ...I love it, If there was ever a word to describe our government's current actions ...You just found it.

I have never heard that term before...I can guarantee that it will now quickly become part of my vocabulary..funny as hell !!!

[SmokingGun on 26.01.06 at 13:59]

Bill - you are so right. How is that common sense is the least common of all senses. Collect the fines or impound the vehicle and charge for it's release after all oustanding fees are paid. Make money and take vehicles off the road at the same time. Doh!

[tong on 26.01.06 at 14:03]

Just a general post,
the notion of expats being singled out is stupid, when i was 16 -21 I was an idiot on the road... you have a sense of invulnerability as someone else said. To that point the worst driving is by young Bermudian men... so lets introduce measures to slow people down. As much as I would hate to see more cops pulling people over I think its necessary to have some presence... any presence... Tcket people by camera, I have seen it in other countries and the speed that people slow down to is ridiculous but it works... I think the problems not to go off topic begins with laws being flouted, trucks used to be by special permit only for Sundays ...now it's like any day of the week, big cars over the size of the legal limit..(well its just an inch or so over so let it go) These may seem petty but they are laws that are not being adhered too, like corruption at the top it simply creates an environment where it is ok to break laws...

Start at the top with the Govt Ministers and Ministries... and work down.

[Tong on 26.01.06 at 14:07]

Oh and one other thing... provide some sort of training for traffic cops that will allow them to deal with people in a non arrogant way, there may be those that deserve it but most don't and they only serve to reduce the respect level when they don't feel the need to pay that same respect to the people they work for... us... public.

[tilti on 26.01.06 at 14:07]

I think that if you are 18 and under your parents should have to accompany you to magistrates court if you get fined. Let the wrath of the angry Bermudian woman fix the problem.
Also, do the Scandinavian solution and tie speeding tickets to earnings. If you earn 100k the idea of a $1,000 speeding ticket might slow you down more than a $145.

[tong on 26.01.06 at 14:22]

Those wily Scandinavians! Sounds like a great idea!

[sandgrownan on 26.01.06 at 14:22]

Two Cents - I do my best for the community at large!

[Ethiops on 26.01.06 at 14:56]

It took me ages to be satisfied with my sit up while riding, finding that perfect place to let my foot hang took ages too, likewise finding the way to make my Honda helmet sit up was another deal altogether. Pathetic as it is I used these as excuses to keep riding when I got off the road. I rode everyday while off the road! Like most I know actually. It’s too bad our public transportation ain’t up to par, I’m sure it could aid people in helping them not feel the need to drive while off the road. The idea of putting cameras up doesn’t appeal to me much and more policing either for that matter. Do we still have the most police per something in the world? Island life is a stress as it is, couple that with not having a licence you could make yourself an angry lil onion… Not saying that we don’t need to police but, for Christ sakes beef up the options for those off the road. One can feel like there in some dead mans land in BDA with the state of public transportation as it is. I don’t feel becoming more strict is the way to go. Stiffer penalties, hasn’t even got a good track record in the area of prevention so I don’t see why all of a sudden that will change.

$11,000,000 spent on cricket? Goddamn please tell me that’s not true.

[ace-girl on 26.01.06 at 15:09]

It's in the best interests of the new chairman to have loads of road accidents to increase his reconstructive surgery business.

[tong on 26.01.06 at 15:45]

It's in the best interests of the new chairman to have loads of road accidents to increase his reconstructive surgery business.

Posted by ace-girl on 26.01.06 at 15:09

Ha, true,

Dr. Christopher comments on the situation
"umm yes there has been a decided increase in people falling of their motorcycles and scooters, I would suggest a good course of action is to make sure that the smallest group on the Island, lets see... here in my notes... ok the expats need more lessons... and yes let's do away with helmets... Why? Well it makes sense, if I were to ask you why not would you be able to see my point? Ok... then...

here's my card.

[SmokingGun on 26.01.06 at 15:57]

I scanned through and collected some great ideas: let's see how many get picked up.

Everyone must get comprehensive instruction in driving a car or riding a bike.

Schools must teach mandatory lessons in good road sense and etiquette. Repeat offenders must attend mandatory programs.

Bus drivers must slow down and drive with both hands on the wheel.
(This can be done with speed govenors and sensors.)

Stop taxi drivers driving pissed. Any Taxi driver caught driving under the influence loses their Taxi license for 5 years minimum.

Ticket EVERYONE who double parks on Queen Street and it's vicinity.
Ticket the officer as well if they fail to ticket a "Family or Friend".

Police should be out in full force over the weekend period, especially when the bars/nightclubs close. Institute systems to help people who have had a few drinks and don't want to drive home, ie. free shuttles or discount shuttles. (Bar owners themselves often do this in the US)
The Police will park on East Broadway at 3am on Friday & Saturday and stop absolutely everyone who appears to be drunk.

Taxi, bus and truck drivers need to be more scrutinized and adhere to stricter compliance.

Collect the fines or impound the vehicle and charge for it's release after all oustanding fees are paid

Ticket people by camera.

Stop laws being flouted: Trucks used by special permit only for Sundays.

Provide training for traffic cops that will allow them to deal with people in a non arrogant way, and handle "family & friends"
appropriately.

18 and under your parents must accompany you to magistrates court if you get fined.

Tie speeding tickets to earnings. If you earn 100k the idea of a $1,000 speeding ticket might slow you down more than a $145.

All sound ideas.

To add a few more:

Bring more ferries on line.

Reduce the size of buses but double the amount.

Get the mini-bus program up and running. Mini-buses can bring people into town in the morning, shuttle people around the city during the day or do tours, then bring people back home at night.

Create localized mini bus routes working in conjunction with the ferries. Do a route picking them up at/near the house and drop them at the ferries and vice versa. Minibus can time it every half hour or so it loops through and charges a simple flat fee for each trip.

[drew on 26.01.06 at 16:06]

You are never going to stop certain stupid little bastards from overtaking 4 cars on a sharp corner. You can only hope that when they crash the only person they hurt or kill are themselves.

[tong on 26.01.06 at 16:09]

Better Public Transport is a must I agree,

I have been elsewhere and I never worry about drinking and driving just cab it or Bus it... after 12am neither is an option here.
I am not sure what we are doing wrong though, not long enough service?

[Combat Banker on 26.01.06 at 16:34]

Well considering they just voted bus & ferry workers a 35 hour work week, I doubt we will be able to cheaply extend the hours of service. My old man used to be on the Marine Board many moons ago, and he tried for years to extend the hours of the Ferry Service, but the Union would hear none of it. However it MAY be possible to do all this under Ewart.

If only Nixon can go to China, then Only Dr. Brown can take the 3 a.m. bus to Dockyard... or something like that :)

[Lurhstaap on 26.01.06 at 16:35]

The west end ferry schedule could definately use some improvement.

If they ran on the hour, every hour then i'd use it all the time. As it is, there's two in the morning, nothing mid morning or mid afternoon, and you are buggered if you need to leave town after 5pm.

That said, the bus service is OK - best white knuckle ride you'll see this side of the Pepsi Max!

[SmokingGun on 26.01.06 at 16:42]

Lurhstaap - in the good old days they used to have a couple of seats up front next to the driver. Now that was worth paying for front row seats!!

[Triforce on 26.01.06 at 17:21]

Extended bus and ferry hours would be a benefit but that's not likely especially as Combat Banker mentioned, the union call to reduce the work week hours. Of course they could hire more workers and resources...

Short of equipping cars with cow-catchers for those annoying darting F1 wannabe bike-riders, not much can be done about those guys who may have good reflexes but their actions affect their fellow road-users who may not have them.

I wouldn't mind my own mounted camera on my bike and whenever someone does somethng crazy like overtaking on a corner, I press a button and snap the photo, send to the authorities and the offender gets a nice juicy ticket...

[Marcus on 26.01.06 at 17:56]

Lurhstapp or shall I call you Red Sky Coven or Vengance, or ... ;)

Filtering (not at the speeds I mentioned above) through traffic in Central London, now that wakes you up in the morning. :)

Triforce,
If you teach people how and when to overtake properly and safely that would be a start. And proper road positioning, and counter steering, and forward planning......

have fun

[Bill Cook on 26.01.06 at 20:34]

Smoke,

Its been a while, but when I used to go to Hong Kong and Kowloon, they had a lot of mini buses and they handled passengers well for one fixed fee and things moved well for such a densely populated area.

Also in another dense area Mexico City where the traffic is horrendous mini buses were used with success.

[Triforce on 27.01.06 at 11:47]

I agree Marcus on teaching how to overtake. I don't think that it could be practical short of some VR-training but at least implement it in written tests as a series of questions (maybe it already is?).

On the other hand, you can teach these fellas how, where and when to overtake but if they ignore it and are convinced that people will move for them when they squeeze through...

And if all the driving instruction in the world doesn't deter the guys who like to ride their bikes along the sidewalk through stop lights and forcing pedestrians to leap back against the wall...

We need to show aggressive drivers that their behaviour won't be tolerated.

Legislation. Fines, 'Off-the-road'. Impound the vehicle if they own it. And when they violate that, jail them. And fine them some more.

[SmokingGun on 27.01.06 at 12:17]

Bill - I agree. Dense populations can be well served by frequent and smaller vehicles. Once people know they have a reliable and efficient service at hand they will migrate towards it and soon it becomes second nature.

Having big buses taking up half the road lumbering along at innapropriate speeds are not the answer. Extending ferry operating times and breaking down the pick up drop off locales will create efficiencies that people will find usefull. Bermuda could start a test program and I'm sure it will prove successful.

As far as the idea of the Union moving workers to a 35 hour work week I do not have a real problem with. Just as long as they create a flex schedule and use the extra hours to hire more people. If the whole idea is to just build in guaranteed over-time pay then it is a total scam at the tax payers expense.

[Marcus on 27.01.06 at 12:56]

Triforce,

Agree about punishment for f*ckwits.
Going some way towards the UK system for bike traing might help.

The UK system is (and I know that some of this wouldn't be practical for Bermuda):
CBT (ie basic training like the current BDA test) before you even get out on the road and then training with radios between instructor and trainee. At the end of the training you have to pass a on the road test. If you fail this you are allowed to ride small bike with L plates for two years. If you don't pass within 2 years you cannot ride. The UK has a direct access scheme for riding bigger bikes (ie anything above a 500cc) which wouldn't be applicable at all in BDA.

Obviously the above isn't perfect and I'm not sure how interested the Govn would be in employing bike riding instructors/examiners (maybe the police riders could help) and the radio kits etc.

[Zoom on 31.01.06 at 11:07]

The police released their drunk driving stats for 2005 yesterday.

http://www.bermudapolice.bm/pages/2006WKJanuary29.htm

Of the 427 arrests, 139 (more than a quarter) came about as the result of traffic accidents. Ouch.

Not enough enforcement. On the way out of town last night, the automated "you are speeding sign" sign was solidly lit because the entire flow of traffic was moving fast. People have already learned to discount the sign as there's no consequence.

[Triforce on 31.01.06 at 16:13]

Exactly. All that those things are now are little gizmos that you can go past and think to yourself "oooh I made that speed, interesting" at best. At worst, ignore entirely. They're pointless without someone at the other side to book you if you indeed break the speed limit.

Next thing you know people will be using them to gauge how fast they can get their vehicle as if trying to qualify for the Daytona 500.

They'd have been more effective launching another big speedbump to at least *make* them drive at a slower speed.

Government's effectively said, "Okay we put up three flashy expensive speedometers, two in school zones and one by ZBM Studios. We've done our part for road safety. Don't blame us if you crash into someone, or blame us if someone crashes into you, because we warned them".

[Somers on 02.02.06 at 11:29]

Something GPS Ewart may want to investigate:
http://autos.aol.com/article?id=20060126172809990001