Police will operate roadside sobriety checkpoints over the Bermuda Day weekend in the wake of the announcement of three road deaths this week.

Acting Assistant Commissioner of Police Arthur Glasford said the checkpoints were previously scheduled and would be positioned across the island from 5pm tomorrow until 4am on May 24.

The announcement was made after Bermuda added three fatalities yesterday to its death toll on the roads.

Mr Glasford said: “The Bermuda Police Service is deeply saddened by the three recent road fatalities and by the fact that eight people have lost their lives on our roads in the past five months, a figure that surpasses the statistical norm for our island.

“On behalf of the service, I extend our sincere condolences to the families and friends of the deceased and to all those affected by these tragic events.”

Leroy Smith, 43, was named as the sixth death after succumbing to his injuries from a crash on April 30.

The two other people, a 73-year-old motorcyclist and a 30-year-old motorcyclist, were killed in separate collisions on Monday.

Acting Superintendent Alex Rollin said during a press conference on Bermuda Day that there had been “no gazetted sobriety checkpoints this weekend”, though he added that that did not “stop officers from addressing drink-driving”.

Mr Glasford called on all road users to use greater caution and to obey posted speed limits, particularly when faced with poor weather, narrow roads or pedestrians.

He told motorists to avoid distractions, to never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and to plan alternative modes of transportation if they planned to drink.