Police urge drivers to stop drinking and driving

Cook Islands Police are hoping there will be fewer road accidents this weekend, especially those involving drink driving.

Police strategic and media officer Trevor Pitt said they wanted to see people stop drinking and driving.

However, he said there was still too much carelessness and disregard for the safety of others on the roads, including speeding.

“Despite the high incidence of accidents, careless driving is the leading cause of accidents on Rarotonga and there is no evidence that the situation is improving,” Mr Pitt said.

Pitt made the comments after police were called to the crash outside Oasis in Nikau at 1.21pm yesterday.

He said a 55-year-old female driver driving a blue Toyota came onto the road from Oasis and collided with a motorcycle.

Mr Pitt said it was not immediately clear what had happened to the motorcyclist who was travelling from the town to Arorangi, but they were able to confirm the motorbike was rented.

He also reported a serious collision between two vehicles near the Cook Islands Christian Church (CICC) in Titikaveka at 1.33pm on Wednesday.

Pitt said the 53-year-old victim was driving a rented white Toyota, while the 38-year-old suspect was driving a silver Toyota.

He said they had obtained blood samples for analysis.