The Bermuda Road Safety Council’s slogan for July -Chance Takers are Accident Makers. Taking a risk to overtake, speed, or drive without due care, among other actions is not worth your life or the life of another person.
The legal definition of Driving without Due Care and Attention is that you were “allowing your standard of driving to fall below that of a prudent motorist”. Driving in this manner means that you are taking a chance that could ultimately result in an accident. Under the Road Traffic 1947- section 37 “Careless driving and driving without reasonable consideration” it states what constitutes “without due care” and that driving without due care is an offense.
A prudent motorist is one who is able to govern and discipline oneself with good driving behaviors. A prudent motorist doesn’t speed excessively, doesn’t overtake unnecessary and doesn’t drive recklessly. By driving in this manner, they are minimizing the chance of taking a risk and creating an accident.
While overtaking is not an offense, if it is not done correctly, it can be a dangerous hazard. Overtaking with on-coming traffic, overtaking on a corner, or overtaking more than 1 vehicle at once are all chances that a driver takes that in a splint second it can all go wrong. Under the Schedule of The Traffic Code - Overtaking - sections 39-44 it speaks to the rules of overtaking on the roads.
The speed limit in Bermuda is 35 mph, however there are drivers that push the limit and take risk to drive at excessive speeds which our roads are not designed for. In the Road Traffic Act 1947 section 7 Speed Limits states the reason for a speed limit and why and how to follow it. Section 7(4) states - any person who drives a vehicle on any road in contravention of this section commits an offense against this Act: Provided that it shall be a defense for a person charged with an offense under this section to prove that it was necessary for them to exceed the speed limit in order to avoid serious danger to any person or property.
The BRSC calls on motorist to be prudent and responsible drivers that we all do our part to help make the roads safer.
Stay safe, remember to drive with care and caution, don’t drink and drive and to slow down Bermuda.
Cautious Drivers = Safer Roads = Safer Bermuda