It’s always difficult to accept the death of a loved one in a road accident.
Part of that is because accidents happen, however, there is also the realisation that they can be prevented.
On Wednesday this week, on New Year’s Day, Roger Qoro was grappling with the loss of his son, Roger Qoro Jr of Sabeto Village, Nadi.
The 12-year-old died after he allegedly fell off a moving vehicle. Jr had joined members of the Revival Church for a New Year’s picnic at Natadola Beach.
His father said that while Jr travelled to the beach by bus that morning, he chose to return with friends in a carrier transporting tents.
Relatives who witnessed the accident rushed him to Sigatoka Hospital. Mr Qoro’s worst fears were realised when he called the hospital at 7pm.
“I asked about Ju, and they started crying. My uncle then told me Ju had passed away.”
Jr suffered internal injuries and bruising.
Every year we talk about road safety. Yet every year we have people dying on our roads. Such tragedies must force us to continue talking about road safety. In fact we should be taking this message to every corner of our nation regularly. In the face of that accident, we reflect on the guidelines for road usage. They tell us what we can do and what should not be done. They offer us a guide on how to use our roads safely. Then there are the issues of vehicle maintenance, and time! We have that, to ensure we are resting well before making a long journey for instance. We must be mindful of distances to be travelled, the speed we should be on when travelling, and what to do when we are tired. Then there are the issues of time management for unforeseen circumstances when on a journey!
As drivers, we should be considering and factoring in passengers, and safety inside the vehicle at all times.
In the face of that, there sits the development of our roads, how well we mark them, and how well we maintain them! Try driving on many of our roads any time this week, and you’ll probably be surprised why there aren’t more accidents! Potholes can be seen easily during the day, but in heavy rain, and with oncoming traffic at night, try guessing where they are! So if you aren’t damaging your shocks and the body of your vehicle, you are most probably saying a few suggestive words to the powers that be for the state of some of our roads. And while you are at it, try guessing where the centre-line is on many of our roads! We leave you to guess where it is when travelling at night and with oncoming traffic at full beam! So if the powers that be are using white paint, then we hope no one is being forced to use water based paints. Because it certainly looks like it! You notice the white centre-line one week, then you see that it fades away after a few weeks!
We know that Assistant Commissioner of Police Operations Livai Driu expressed his condolences and concern over the incident on Wednesday.
“Despite police efforts during the festive season, such tragedies happen because drivers aren’t responsible enough,” he said.
Now that’s a powerful statement!
The question is, how do we monitor that? Or better still, how do we get drivers and vehicle users tuned in to road safety? A change in mindset at the very early stage before licences are issued perhaps? A relook at our defensive driving courses perhaps for every learner? Lives matter on our roads! We have far too many drivers who disregard basic road rules, and common sense daily! They probably think they are invincible! And many probably reckon they own the road, and will flirt with the law, daily! It’s the beginning of a new year! We need to work together to address this major challenge. Road safety matters!
