By Trevor Lindsay
Bermuda is grappling with a disturbing and persistent issue — the high number of road traffic collisions and the out-of-control behavior associated with drunk driving. In an exclusive interview, I spoke with Police Commissioner Darren Simons about the challenges the island faces and the urgent need for change on our roads.
Commissioner Simons didn’t mince words when it came to the seriousness of the problem.
“It remains a top priority for the Bermuda Police Service,” he said. “Obviously we’ve got enforcement activities in place, but at the end of the day, most — if not all — of these accidents are preventable. It comes down to driver behavior.”
The Commissioner emphasized that while law enforcement can and will do their part, the root of the issue lies with individual choices. He urged motorists to drive with “care, caution, and courtesy,” adding a firm plea for drivers to slow down.
In response to growing community frustration, he confirmed the introduction of speed cameras is on the horizon.
“We hope to have speed cameras implemented within a year, and I believe that will have a moderating impact on people’s behavior,” Simons said.
When asked about the persistent issue of drunk driving, the Commissioner acknowledged the difficulty in shifting deeply ingrained cultural behaviors.
“Drink driving is still a problem,” he admitted. “We run sobriety checkpoints and we still catch people. At the core, this comes down to choices that people make and what behaviors are accepted in our community — some of which wouldn’t be tolerated in other jurisdictions.”
Simons was clear: the goal is not to spoil people’s fun, but to prevent the harm that can result from irresponsible choices.
“I don’t want to discourage people from having a good time. I just want to discourage them from drinking and driving — and the road harm that results from that,” he said.
He pointed to a need for shared responsibility: trained servers in bars who monitor patrons, the use of designated drivers, and individuals making smart, preventative decisions before they even get behind the wheel.
“Enforcement is part of the solution,” Simons noted, “but personal responsibility plays a major role too.”
With road traffic collisions continuing to impact lives across Bermuda, the message from the Police Commissioner is clear: change starts with each of us — and it starts now.
Any content which is considered unsuitable, unlawful, or offensive, includes personal details, advertises or promotes products, services or websites, or repeats previous comments will be removed.
User comments posted on this website are solely the views and opinions of the comment writer and are not a representation of or reflection of the opinions of TNN or its staff.
TNN reserves the right to remove, edit or censor any comments.
TNN accepts no liability and will not be held accountable for the comments made by users.