Another Police vehicle was involved in an accident over the weekend, bringing the total number of Police collisions to 35 this year.

Seven people have been injured in these accidents, which account for nearly two percent of all road collisions on the Island.

And eight of the collisions have happened in the last six weeks, with the latest one happening Saturday evening.

No one was injured in the collision which took place at 10.40 p.m. on Somerset Road in Sandys parish near the junction with Scaur Hill Drive

A Police spokesman said: "It appears that the car and the Police vehicle were both travelling south on Somerset Road with the Police vehicle behind the car.

"The car came to a stop; however, the Police vehicle was unable to stop in time and collided with the rear of the car."

Both cars received damage as a result of the accident.

Police did not reveal how much the accidents have cost the taxpayer.

But Police were at pains to say they are safe drivers, despite the spate of high profile accidents recently, when The Royal Gazette tagged along for a drive along Bermuda's roads in a Police vehicle on Friday.

During the afternoon Superintendent Nick Pedro said they take Police collisions very seriously. When one happens it is investigated by someone of a higher rank than the individual involved. Moreover the Police have suspended licenses when it finds that the officer was at fault. That officer must enrol in a two week training programme and retake exams, they may also have their advanced driver credentials revoked.

The training an officer receives before they can get behind the wheel of a Police vehicle is extensive according to Sergeant Dorian Astwood, who runs the three week course.

He teaches them the theory behind safe driving and to be aware of everything going on around them. If they pass the standard course they are allowed to drive the vehicles, but only up to 80 k.m. They must also undergo an eye test and a driving exam administered by an independent party.

Another three week course, for the advanced credentials, is required before drivers can speed along Bermuda's roads at 100 k.m. Supt. Pedro added that Bermudian drivers often complicate matters for Police by failing to make way for vehicles rushing to an emergency. He cited the use of I-pods and cell phones as reasons many fail to acknowledge Police vehicles. And The Royal Gazette saw just that. While riding in a marked Police vehicle The Royal Gazette saw several driver ignore Police lights and continue on driving for several minutes before pulling aside and making way for the emergency vehicle. One young man, who we encountered by the original Swizzle Inn, was so busy checking out the chrome on his rear bike tire, while texting, and driving, that he failed to pull over until he had nearly crossed the Causeway.Several others chose to slow down but refused to pull over. Meanwhile others did not appear to care when lights were flashing and the siren was blaring. One man in a black car ignored the sirens and overtook two cars which had pulled over for the emergency vehicle until another driver shouted at him from their car. Read The Royal Gazette for a report from Mikaela Pearman who spent Friday evening with the traffic enforcement Police to see how you behave on the road.