Road accidents will come into focus again following the death of a 20-year-old man who was killed in an accident along the Kings Rd at Naviyago, Lautoka, on Saturday morning.
Director Traffic Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Mitieli Divuana said the victim was one of the three passengers travelling in a vehicle driven by a 30-year-old man.
The driver, he said, allegedly lost control of his vehicle, causing it to crash into the railings and landed in the river.
The victim and other passengers were rushed to the Lautoka Aspen Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
That took the road death toll to 41 compared to 63 for the same period last year.
In saying that, the Land Transport Authority and police issued 182,615 traffic infringement notices (TINs) from January to July 2024.
Minister for Public Works, Transport and Meteorological Services Ro Filipe Tuisawau reported this to Parliament.
They were from LTA enforcement, LTA red light speed camera infringements and police TINs.
When you consider the breakdown of the figures, a total of 179,371 TINs were issued for general offences (speeding, red light speed camera, police TINs, driver behaviour).
The alarming number of traffic violations reported points to a broader issue of road safety in Fiji.
Despite reduction in the death toll compared to the previous year, every road accident brings with it profound consequences for families and communities.
The loss of young lives, like that of the 21-year-old, serves as a reminder of the potential dangers on our roads.
So it is encouraging to see the Government and law enforcement agencies intensifying their focus on education and enforcement.
We look forward to campaigns aimed at raising awareness about safe driving practices.
These are important in changing public attitudes towards road safety.
This includes promoting the use of seat belts, discouraging speeding, and eliminating distractions while driving.
The loss of life in Lautoka also serves as a reminder of the critical need for increased vigilance and adherence to traffic laws.
Every year we go on campaigns, focusing on road safety.
We talk about what should be done on our roads.
We talk about safety tips, and the role of the driver, the passenger, and the pedestrian.
We talk about life and how it hangs by a thread.
We discuss road laws.
We discuss so many things to try and ensure our roads are safe.
Yet every year, accidents happen.
They happen because we allow them to.
We say, both law enforcement and the community must work together to encourage a culture of safety, that should lead to fewer tragedies on our roads.
We have a challenge to create a safer driving environment for all.
