Fatal Accidents

The Fiji Police Force is again calling for behavioural change and acceptance that road safety is everyone’s responsibility.

Assistant Commissioner of Police – Operations (ACP-O) Livai Driu says the biggest challenge faced by law enforcement continues to be the attitude and behavior of both drivers and pedestrians towards road safety, reflected in the high number of road deaths which now stand at 53 compared to 21 for the same period last year.

ACP Driu said over the last 24-hour period, another two lives were claimed on our roads in separate accidents.

The first accident occurred in Koronubu Road in Ba, where a man who was sitting in the middle of the road was bumped by an unknown vehicle.

The incident occurred after 4am and witnessed by the occupants of another vehicle approaching the scene, but they could notmake out the particulars of the car.

The witnesses rushed the 25-year-old victim to the Ba Hospital where he was unfortunately pronounced dead on arrival.

ACP Driu said in the second incident, a 25-year-old man was bumped by a vehicle driven by a 24-year-old man along Khalsa Road early this morning.

The victim was walking towards his home when the alleged incident occurred.

In another serious accident case, a vehicle driven by a 54-year-old man veered off the road in Bulileka after 3am this morning.

The four passengers were conveyed to the Labasa Hospital where they were treated for minor injuries.

The driver and one of his passengers remain hospitalized.

ACP Driu said the behavior of both drivers and pedestrians must change to prevent further loss of life.

He adds, accidents occur because of complacency and the general poor attitude towards road safety.

Speeding for an example he says is one of the leading contributing factors towards accidents and fatalities, yet drivers continue to be booked for driving above 100km/hr.

ACP Driu said poor pedestrian behavior is also noted with great concern, where in some instances, vehicles have to make way for pedestrians or simple measures like wearing bright clothing at night, are often overlooked and disregarded.

ACP Driu stressed that accidents and fatalities are avoidable, if everyone adopts a change of mndset and attitude towards road safety, and understand that one's failure to comply with road rules can and will have devastating consequences.