Strict crackdown on traffic offences is expected from March through to April following the signing of a Joint Enforcement Operation Order between the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and the Fiji Police Force.
LTA’s chief executive officer Irimaia Rokosawa said the operation is designed to curb dangerous driving during one of the busiest periods on the roads, coinciding with school sporting competitions, national events, and increased inter-island and inter-city travel.
The first stage will run from March 1 to 31, will focus on stopping illegal Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) and making sure buses follow e-ticketing rules, and the second stage, from April 1 to 30, will involve strong enforcement on all major highways in every division.
“These measures will help reduce crashes, injuries, fatalities, and traffic offences while promoting a culture of shared responsibility for road safety,” Mr Rokosawa said.
He also raised concerns about unacceptable behaviours on the road.
“We continue to observe unacceptable behaviours particularly among some public service vehicles, drivers, overloading buses, carriage culture, attempting to cross flood waters, speeding, fatigue related incidents, dangerous overtaking and loss of vehicle control. These actions place innocent lives at unacceptable risks and undermine the public confidence in road transport safety.”
Assistant Commissioner of Police Operations Kasiano Vusonilawe highlighted the teamwork and vigilance among enforcement officers and reinforced the focus on officer integrity and compliance. “We are the law enforcement agencies, we have to enforce the law on the ground in line with the law, decision in line with the law of the State, and to also keep the standard, not to compromise the law when we are enforcing,” Mr Vusonilawe said.
“Corruption is not in the line of duty within these two months.”
The two agencies say the operation will include compliance checks on drivers, vehicles, and passenger safety, sending a strong message that road safety is a shared responsibility and there will be no tolerance for breaches.
