Police yesterday confirmed Rarotonga’s second road fatality this year.

In a statement, Police said a 24-year-old man sustained fatal injuries as a result of a motorbike crash late Saturday morning.

Police were called to the scene at Kauare, in Titikaveka, at 11.37am. Two men on a motorbike crashed at a side road intersection.

Police were continuing crash forensic investigations yesterday, including witness statements. The surviving 27-year-old man was expected to assist the Police investigation.

The first road fatality for 2023 was recorded in April when a 48-year-old died in a motor vehicle crash in Titikaveka.

Police last week stated: “So far this calendar year, 43 per cent to 65 per cent of all charges presented to the court by Police Prosecution each month involve traffic offenses. Over the course of a year, traffic offense charges will far outstrip other offenses. In 2022 for example, traffic offenses led the field with 184, followed by a distant second of 86 offenses involving violence, and then crimes of dishonesty, with 42.”

“Of the traffic offenses prosecuted in court, in 2022, the majority share was for drunk driving, at 46% of the total.  The next largest share of offenses was careless driving at 36%.

“Even more disconcerting is that Police Prosecution data reveals that drivers between 16 to 30 are the still biggest group of offenders when it comes to drunk driving.”