WITH the start of the 2019 academic year, the safety of our children should always be priority.
Police are once again sending the message out strongly on the safety of children in the new school year.
“Keep up the momentum of operations to ensure children are able to start the school year incident-free and to the parents and guardians, and not forgetting teachers and members of the public to work together in keeping children safe,” said ACP Maretino Qiolevu.
It is the greatest fear and regret to see a child become the victim of an accident, an accident that could have been avoided.
On the road, where children are left to walk on their own to school or to run across the road to buy something only to be mowed down by an oncoming vehicle.
On Christmas Eve a mother standing on the road, lost her grip when her three-year-old daughter ran across the road only to be hit by an oncoming vehicle.
Last year in August, an 18-year-old girl was run-down by a vehicle while walking along the road near Vatukarasa Village in Nadroga, while in another separate accident an 11-year-old boy was rushed to the CWM Hospital after being involved in a road accident.
In October, 20 students were admitted at the Nabouwalu Subdivisional Hospital in Bua after the vehicle they were travelling in veered off the road.
Earlier in July, a 10-year-old child was rushed to the CWM Hospital from the Nausori Hospital, after being hit by an oncoming vehicle, while walking to school.
The accident could have been avoided if there was an adult present to walk the child to school.
On the other hand, the three-year-old’s accident could also be avoided if the mother was paying much more attention.
Whatever the reasons of adults’ failure to accompany children or lack of concentration while with the young ones, children can never be blamed for an accident, after all that’s what adults are there for, to ensure their safety.
According to a presentation by Lesi Vuatalevu the senior transport planner in the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, while presenting the Country Status Report in July of 2016 at the Renewing Regional Road Safety Goals and Targets meeting in Seoul Korea, said it was going to take many more years for Fiji to be able to improve road use from passengers, to drivers and pedestrians alike.
Statistics provided in the meeting show in the six years from 2010 to 2015 majority of road victims were either passengers or pedestrians.
Of the 372 road fatalities more than 60 per cent of victims were passengers and pedestrians (224 in total). Speeding is the number one cause of all road accidents followed by dangerous, careless driving, pedestrians at fault, improper overtaking, fatigue and even parental neglect.
Ms Vuatalevu said government and other stakeholders were working to improve road safety in the country this includes the defence driving course for level 1, and 2, outreach programs including awareness programs to primary and high school, recruitment of road marshals and engaging the media on the importance of road safety.
Police often send officers around schools and communities teaching adults and children alike the important of road use.
Drivers are well aware of the road rules so if we are all aware, then what more needs to be done to avoid accidents that could be avoided?
Remember not only lives are lost, but also the cost to attend to these accidents — money that could be used for other projects.
The best answer to who is responsible for safety relies on everyone; slow down when you supposed to, drive safely, do not overtake where you are not supposed to overtake, do not play on the road, always be mindful and be extra vigilant when in the company of children.
As simple A, B, C;
A – Avoid all and any accidents;
B – Be very careful, all the time;
C – Concentrate, while driving, walking, on the road and while looking after children.
