Government has voiced grave concern over the alarming rise in road accidents and fatalities this year, warning that stricter laws and penalties may soon be enforced to curb reckless driving.
According to the Fiji Police Force, 65 people have died on the nation’s roads so far this year — 14 more than the 51 recorded during the same period in 2024.
“This rise in numbers is unacceptable and deeply troubling. It reveals an ongoing disregard for traffic laws, road safety measures, and the value of human life,” said Acting Prime Minister and Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources, Filimoni Vosarogo.
He noted that despite ongoing awareness campaigns and visible policing, “many drivers continue to engage in dangerous behaviour such as speeding, drink driving, careless overtaking, and using mobile phones while behind the wheel.”
Mr Vosarogo cited two recent crashes — one in Tavua that claimed the life of a 24-year-old Vatukoula miner, and another in Suva’s Namadi Heights — as evidence of “recklessness, indifference, or both.”
He said the Government is considering a review of road-use laws that could include stricter licence testing, harsher penalties for drunk and reckless driving, and cancellation of licences for repeat offenders.
“The current trajectory is unacceptable,” he said.
“We cannot continue to lose lives at this rate and treat these deaths as statistics. Every fatality represents a son, daughter, parent, or friend whose life has been cut short.”
Mr Vosarogo stressed that road safety is a shared responsibility between government, law enforcement, and every motorist.
“Driving is a privilege, not a right,” he said. “If drivers show irresponsibility, government has no hesitation to amend and enforce laws to remove your privilege to drive permanently.”
He added that the Government, through the Ministry of Transport and the Land Transport Authority, will work with police to develop a comprehensive road safety framework aimed at reversing the trend.
“Deaths on our roads must come to an end,” he concluded. “The safety of our people is paramount, and government will not hesitate to take strong and decisive action.”
