Drunken driving is responsible for an increasing number of road accident deaths in Tonga, where fatalities have doubled in the last year.

This year 20 people have died from road accidents compared to eight last year.

The 20th victim was a 20-year-old male passenger in a car that crashed in the early morning hours of October 18 at Sopu. The driver of the car was hospitalised.

Earlier on October 11, a 30 year old female was killed in a hit and run incident that took place along Nuku'alofa's main waterfront. A driver is currently being detained in police custody awaiting trial.

Chief Inspector Siale Kailahi of the Traffic Department, said that drunken driving was causing many of the deaths. "Most of the deaths that we have seen this year on the road, involve 18 year olds and upwards with most of the accidents happening during the weekend, either late Friday night or early Saturday morning, where the driver had consumed alcohol," he said.

The Nuku'alofa traffic department had used more police patrols along Nuku'alofa's main roads to try and prevent more road accidents during the weekends.