13 Oct 2003

A high road toll in Tonga is blamed on a three fold increase in cars

6:22 am on 13 October 2003

A three fold increase in the number of vehicles on the roads is being blamed for a surge in traffic deaths in Tonga.

18 people have died on the roads so far this year.

That compares with eight for all of last year.

Police Chief Inspector ,Pesalili Kailahi, says two years ago there were about three thousand cars on the main island, Tongatapu, but now there are over ten thousand.