Bermuda saw a total of 24 road crashes over the Cup Match break, according to police — four of them serious, with six people ending up treated in hospital.

The litany of serious accidents merely underscores the Island’s “appalling” lack of initiative in tackling dangerous driving, according to road safety expert Joseph Froncioni.

The veteran safety campaigner and orthopaedic surgeon said severe injuries connected with recent crashes were “nearly all related to the two issues of drinking and driving, and speeding”.

The long weekend came with several serious incidents, starting with a flipped car with no apparent injuries, reported on Thursday night by a St John’s Road, Pembroke resident.

Friday saw an 18-year-old motorcyclist left with injuries initially described as life-threatening, following a 7.40pm collision on Middle Road, Southampton. However his condition subsequently improved, and he has been released from hospital.

On Saturday morning a married couple in a tent alongside Kindley Field Road, St George’s were struck by a car — with the driver, a 19-year-old male, subsequently arrested on suspicion of driving while impaired.

The couple in the tent — a 51-year-old man and his 44-year-old wife — remained in hospital this afternoon. While the wife has been transferred to a general ward, her husband remains in the intensive care ward in stable condition.

At 11.30pm on Saturday, a serious crash was reported on Parsons Road, Pembroke, involving a westbound taxi and a motorcyclist travelling east, in which three people were hurt.

The 28-year-old rider remains in stable condition in the intensive care unit, while the male taxi driver and female taxi passenger also injured in this collision had less serious wounds. He was treated at the hospital and later discharged while her injuries apparently did not require hospital treatment.

The count of 24 accidents came as police Superintendent James Howard thanked the public for their assistance over the long holiday weekend, noting that police over Cup Match had to patrol at least eight events attended by more than 30,000 people.

These included the Cup Match Summer Splash concert, Beachfest, two days of Cup Match itself, the Soca versus Reggae concert at Snorkel Park, and the Non-Mariners Race at Mangrove Bay.

Although the general public played “a big part in helping to contain things within reason”, Supt Howard added: “The critical area of concern to the police continues to be the dangerous driving behaviours displayed on our roads.

“We responded to 24 road traffic collisions, 16 of which resulted in injuries. Four serious collisions sent six people to the hospital for treatment, and it is fortunate that their injuries were not any worse than they are.

“The Bermuda Police Service reminds all motorists that good driving behaviour starts with good decision making. We urge everyone using our roads to slow down, and exercise care, caution and courtesy.”