The Bermuda Taxi Owners & Operators Association (BTOA) sends sincere holiday wishes to residents and visitors and a simple request: please travel safely.

Over the past few months (October–December 2025) Bermuda has seen a worrying number of road crashes, including serious single-vehicle incidents, collisions involving motorcycles, and tragic fatalities. Recent coverage documents single-vehicle crashes where cars left the road and ended up in ditches or the water, multiple motorcycle collisions, a minibus crash, and other incidents that injured or, in some cases, killed road users. These events underline how fragile life on our roads can be and why planning your transport matters.

Why this matters now

The Bermuda Road Safety Council and the Ministry responsible for transport have launched a “Designate a Driver” campaign and urged the public to plan travel carefully during the festive season, advice echoed by the Transport Minister and road safety organisations. They have called for tougher attention to impaired driving, designated drivers, and practical plans for events and nights out. BTOA welcomes and supports these efforts.

Practical steps to reduce accidents this holiday season

Bermuda offers several transportation options that are licensed, regulated, and overseen by Government, ensuring standards for safety, pricing, insurance, and service quality are upheld. Choosing regulated transport protects both passengers and drivers.

BTOA encourages everyone, visitors and locals, to take these simple, proven steps:

Travel with Care, Caution, and Courtesy on Bermuda Roads

Please Travel Safely this Holiday!

1. Use licensed, regulated transport when possible

Choose licensed taxis, minibuses and public transport. These providers are regulated, insured and trained to operate safely under Bermuda’s standards. Licensed taxi dispatch companies and apps connect you quickly to vetted drivers and are a reliable choice late at night or when weather or fatigue make driving risky. (See BTOA dispatch options and local providers.)

2. Plan your journey in advance

If you’ll be at an event where alcohol is served, build a transportation plan: book a taxi, reserve a minibus for groups, or assign a sober designated driver before the night starts. The Road Safety Council recommends that event planners include safe transportation plans for guests.

3. If you’re impaired, tired, ill or unsafe don’t keep driving

If you begin to feel tired, unwell, or impaired: pull over in a safe place, call a licensed taxi or the police for help, or ask a sober passenger to take the wheel. Driving while impaired or exhausted contributes to the types of collisions reported across the island this season. Several recent incidents involved vehicles leaving the road or colliding with other road users, outcomes that may have been avoided with different transport choices.

4. Avoid unregulated “gypsy” operators

Unlicensed private operators are not governed by the same safety, insurance, and licensing requirements as regulated taxis and minibuses. Taking unregulated rides poses real risk for passengers and for the island’s overall transport safety. BTOA strongly discourages using unregulated operators and instead urges passengers to use licensed taxi services or regulated apps.

5. Designate a sober driver (or take a taxi)

If you plan to drink, make a commitment beforehand: designate a driver who will not drink at all, or pre-book a taxi. The Road Safety Council’s “Designate a Driver” campaign highlights how effective this simple practice can be at preventing tragedies.

6. Keep courtesy and caution at the forefront

Slow down in poor conditions, watch for motorcyclists and pedestrians, signal early, and leave space for others. Courtesy reduces conflict and accidents, and protects the most vulnerable road users. The BRSC and community road-safety groups have repeatedly emphasised speed, signaling, and pedestrian safety as immediate areas of focus.

How BTOA is helping

BTOA and its members are committed to being part of the solution. We:

Promote regulated taxi use and public awareness of licensed dispatch options.
Encourage drivers and operators to complete additional customer service and safety training.
Support community campaigns led by the Bermuda Road Safety Council, the Bermuda Police Service and other organisations calling for safer roads.

A final word

The holidays are a time for celebration and connection. They are also a time to show care for our neighbours by making safe choices on the road. If you are travelling this season, please: plan ahead, pick licensed transport, designate a sober driver, and if you must stop because you’re tired or unwell, do so — then call for help. Simple decisions save lives.

BTOA sends its condolences to families affected by recent road tragedies and stands with the Bermuda Road Safety Council, the Ministry, CADA and community advocates in working to reduce road-traffic injuries and fatalities. We wish everyone a safe and joyful holiday season.