Nine road incidents were reported over the weekend, making it the highest number of road cases so far this year.

According to Cook Islands Police, this month has gotten off to a rough start, especially with the number of road incidents that occurred over the weekend.

There were nine road incidents reported between Friday and Sunday, making it the worst weekend for road incidents so far this year.

A drunk driver on Saturday morning drove off the road in Muri, resulting in minor injuries and a partly destroyed motorbike.

The individual admitted to being drunk and falling asleep while driving.

A 19-year-old driver of an SUV collided with a power pole in Rutaki early Sunday morning. The damages will be costly considering the damage to the car and the added expense of replacing the power pole.

At 1:29am on Sunday, Police were searching for the owner of the vehicle found on the side of Titikaveka back road. Police later reported that the female driver was taken to the hospital.

According to police media and strategic advisor, Trevor Pitt, these incidents clearly highlight that while careless driving is a significant factor in these road incidents, the continued presence of alcohol consumption related to road use is an ongoing concern.

This concern is shared not only by the Police as they work to maintain safety but also by every day road users. Many people understandably feel unsafe, particularly when driving at night, due to this ongoing problem.

Over the weekend, police also reported a break-in at Avarua Primary School and that two juvenile suspects attempted a burglary in Nikao before fleeing the scene on their motorbike after being disrupted.