THE three tragic and needless deaths on the road at Lautoka on Wednesday once again underline the need for motorists to be extremely careful.
In seconds a joy-ride turned into a family tragedy with three young people dead and one struggling for her life in the intensive care unit of Lautoka Hospital.
Final year student pilot Tabuia Tanua was only 25 when the truck he was driving slammed into a tree.
Also dead is first-year teacher trainee Esther Boteie.
These are two young people who will now never have the chance to make a contribution to their family and the nation.
In monetary terms their deaths ù and that of third former Opaia Karutake ù cost hundreds of thousands of dollars in wasted investment.
Their clothing, food and education has been paid for by parents in the hope that one day there would be a return on that investment ù a young adult fully prepared for life as a useful citizen of Fiji.
For the parents of Tabuia, Esther and Opaia there will be no return for the love bestowed on these children and the money spent on their education.
There are hundreds of families in Fiji which have faced this grim reality at some time in the past.
And there will be many more families forced to deal with such a situation in future.
All we can really do is try to limit the number of road deaths by being more careful as motorists, passengers or pedestrians.
One way to reduce deaths on the road is to ensure that motorists do not drink and drive.
For the relatives of the three young people who died on Wednesday the accident has taught an invaluable lesson about the dangers of drink driving.
At least one person in the group took a few drinks before the fateful joyride.
Obaia Tanua ù younger brother of the driver said: "I don't think there will be any more alcohol drinking in this house but what a harsh lesson for us - to lose three at once is heartbreaking."
While the three deaths were unfortunate, they provide a lesson for all people who use the roads.
We must all conduct ourselves responsibly on the road as drivers, pedestrians and passengers.
And we have a duty as responsible citizens to ensure that those who use the road exercise all possible care.
That means being harsh and stopping people who have had more than the accepted number of drinks from getting behind the wheel or walking on a major thoroughfare.
We must all learn from this terrible tragedy.