IN 1972, out of the 18 people who died in road accidents, 12 had alcohol in their blood, a pathologist’s report said.
This was revealed in the House of Representatives by Minister for Health, James Shankar Singh, who said the fact that alcohol was a factor in more than half of Fiji’s road accidents and fatalities was “serious and alarming”.
The Fiji Times of February 24, 1973, reported on Mr Singh calling for the introduction of “breath analysis tests” in Fiji through a new legislation and said government was considering the idea of measuring blood alcohol during all autopsies on road accident victims.
For statistical purposes, all doctors, for a year from March 1, 1973, were asked to report to the Medical Department details of road accident injuries they treated.
Mr Singh said compulsory blood tests for drivers were not possible under Fiji laws hence the need for its inclusion.
He was speaking in support of an Opposition motion calling on all government departments involved in traffic matters to examine and appraise Fiji’s traffic laws, including one relating to third party insurance.
The motion was also to examine whether new speed limits, compulsory seat belts and compulsory breath tests and passenger injury compensation should be introduced or changed.
According to the motion, the $4000 maximum a passenger hurt in a crash of a private car could claim, was too small.
Parliament heard arguments that third party should provide for an immediate automatic compensation payment to the dependents of any person killed in a road accident.
