Twenty one people died on Tonga roads in 2018 making it the highest number it has been in 10 years.
Acting Police Chief Superintendent Tēvita Vailea said the number of deaths which occurred on our roads last year “could have been avoided”, according to a Tonga Broadcasting Commission report.
Six people died on the roads in 2017, the lowest in 12 years.
In 2016, there were 18 deaths on Tongan roads.
Alcohol was blamed for more than 80 percent of fatal crashes in 2018.
Mr Vailea said Police believed illicit drugs were also a contributing factor but that cannot be verified due to lack of resources.
Mr Vailea warned that police would continue to be out in force focusing on excessive speeding, drink driving, and license checks during the year.
He has asked parents to sit down with their kids who travelled by vehicles on their own and have a conversation around road safety rules.
