Motorcyclists must follow the law, wear the correct type of helmet and have it properly strapped on, says Brent Fisher, president of the Cook Islands Road Safety Council.

The Road Safety Council’s call comes after a motorcyclist, who was injured in a crash early Saturday morning, was reported to have been wearing a bicycle helmet.

Cook Island Police reported that the male motorcyclist sustained a head injury in the crash that took place just past the Cook Islands Game Fishing Club at Kiikii. Police were called at 12.55am.

Police media and strategic advisor Trevor Pitt said: “The man appeared to have a bicycle helmet, which had broken in the crash.”

Pitt stated that as of yesterday, he had no updates regarding the matter or the driver’s condition, but a blood sample had been requested.

Commenting on the issue of helmets, he said “there is a lot of non-compliance among motorcyclists”.

“That includes the failure to secure the strap.”

Road Safety Council president Fisher said: “As a motorcyclist, you should do what the law says because it’s there for a reason and that is to wear the correct type of helmet and also just as importantly to keep it strapped on.”

Fisher says there are two areas that police are really “not enforcing”.

“The first responsibility is to yourself and that is to make sure that you’ve got the right helmet on to protect yourself. And then the second is, the police do their job and to police it.”

Fisher, who is also an ambulance officer, said helmets have made a massive difference looking at the crashes they have attended to.

“It’s made a massive difference to the Ministry of Health and a massive saving too to the government because they haven’t had to pay these extravagant fees for medevacs.”

Fisher said he had also seen people riding on the back of trucks, sitting on the side of the trucks, and called on the police to step up their efforts and start issuing fines or warnings.

With the Cook Islands Games underway and the island buzzing with tourists, Fishers called on motorists to have a “plan B” if they are going to consume alcohol.

“We’ve got a lot of outer islanders, and no disrespect to them, but the road is a little bit different on some of those outer islands than it is here. We just need to be courteous and if someone cuts in front of you, just smile and wave and just carry on.”

Police spokesperson Pitt advised that tourists should not carry their young children in front of the driver on a motorbike, as they will be prosecuted if caught

“Rarotonga’s road needs to be respected for the risks it carries as it can be quite dangerous. Don’t be complacent,” Pitt said.

“Carelessness is the main cause of road incidents reported to Police. So during times of traffic congestion (including major events), all drivers should be taking extra care and extending courtesy and patience on the road.”