The Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission is calling for age-neutral medical fitness requirements for all drivers, warning that singling out specific age groups is discriminatory and does little to address Fiji’s growing road safety crisis.
Human Rights Commissioner Chantelle Khan said the Commission is concerned by the alarming rate of road traffic accidents in Fiji, particularly those linked to drink-driving and drug-impaired driving.
“Public safety is best served when medical fitness requirements apply universally to all drivers, rather than selectively targeting any single age group,” Khan said.
“Singling out specific age groups undermines fairness and fails to address the broader risks posed by unfit drivers of any age.”
Khan stressed that road safety should be based on responsible behaviour, personal health, and proven fitness, not arbitrary age thresholds.
“A uniform, age-neutral approach reinforces the message that road safety is about fitness and responsibility, not age,” she said.
“Removing ageism and discrimination ensures that all drivers are held to the same rigorous safety standards to protect road users and the wider public.”
The Commission said public safety and human rights are not competing goals but are mutually reinforcing. Khan noted that a rights-based driver licensing system, supported by universal medical assessments, would help improve safety while upholding constitutional guarantees of equality and dignity.
“A rights-based, age-neutral licensing regime will help keep Fiji’s roads safe while ensuring no group is unfairly disadvantaged,” she said.
The Commission has urged policymakers and relevant authorities to adopt inclusive, evidence-driven reforms that effectively address road safety risks, including those posed by drug- and drink-driving.
Khan said the Commission will continue to monitor developments and advocate for approaches that protect public safety without discrimination, ensuring safer roads for all Fijians.
