The Fiji Roads Authority (FRA) has reiterated that road safety is the responsibility of the authority and pedestrians.
FRA chief executive officer Kamal Prasad’s comment follows a request by taxidrivers for the installation of traffic lights at a crossing by the BSP branch in Labasa Town.
Labasa Taxi Association executives told Transport Minister Faiyaz Koya traffic congestion in town had caused road travel problems.
General secretary Sujeet Sharma said it took about 15 minutes to drive from the market taxi stand to the busy area outside the bank building.
“It should take three minutes to drive out from this area, but because of traffic congestion we take 15 minutes to reach the main road,” Mr Sharma said.
“Pedestrians cross the road (outside BSP) haphazardly and cause cars to wait. If FRA puts traffic lights in this area it will ease traffic flow.
“When police control the traffic there is no problem, but they’re not always there so it’s best to have traffic lights for everyone’s sake and safety.”
However, Mr Prasad rejected the cabbies’ request, saying the pedestrian crossing was suitable.
“There are pedestrian crossings installed at safe locations and the public is requested to use these rather than cross haphazardly and endanger the safety of other road users,” he said.
“Everyone must take safety as their responsibility.
“The safety of road users at these locations is not only the responsibility of the police and FRA, but also the responsibility of pedestrians who must use the dedicated facility to cross the road safely.”
