Reported motor vehicle crashes during December have dropped significantly on Rarotonga in recent years.

Latest statistics from police show 15 reported crashes in December 2021 compared with 16 in 2020, 24 in 2019 and 26 in 2018.

Sixteen people sustained injuries as a result of crashes last month – five of them were hospitalised.

Carelessness, poor judgement, and inconsiderate behaviour accounted for the bigger share of accidents, police reported.

Meanwhile, police fined a record number of drivers for a range of traffic offences in December. 

Infringements totalled 290 for the month – a total that would normally be spread over six months or more. 

Nearly 75 per cent of drivers fined were under the age of 40. 

The most common minor offence – 76 per cent of the total number of fines – was driving without a warrant of fitness. 

“This casual attitude was followed by driving a vehicle without an annual licence, at 29 per cent of the total,” police spokesman Trevor Pitt said.

Driving without a rear vision mirror represented 17 per cent of the total number of fines.

Five people were added to the disqualified drivers register, following drink driving convictions, last month. 

Three people already disqualified were arrested in December for continuing to drive, and more than a dozen drivers had their keys taken off them.

“Last month’s traffic record is a clear indication that perhaps hundreds of drivers are failing to maintain their basic legal obligations,” Pitt said.

“Many are simply just careless with a poor attitude, or lacking in attention while on the road. 

“Rarotonga has a lot of room to improve when it comes to driver behaviour, especially important since road usage is on the verge of increasing in volume this week.”