Drunk drivers will not receive compensation – Akbar

The CEO for the Accident Compensation Commission of Fiji Parvez Akbar says drunk drivers will not receive compensation.

Akbar highlighted this during the Annual General Meeting of the Fiji Rental Car Association while responding to a question whether a drunk driver would be covered in an accident.

He says all victims of the accident, whether passengers, pedestrians or anyone else involved in an accident would be compensated except for the drunk driver.

Akbar says in recognition of the severe economic impacts of COVID-19, the annual Motor Vehicle Accident Levy was reduced by 50% by ACCF through the Fijian Government for the 2020/2021 financial year.

He says in the 2021/22 financial there was a 100% waiver of the Motor Vehicle Accident Levy, so nothing had to be paid by motor vehicle owners for this period.

Akbar says human error, be it speed, fatigue, drink driving, distracted driving, for example use of mobile devices and pedestrian negligence are the main factors in road accidents.

Assistant President for the Association, Shalit Kumar also asked Akbar if they could raise the penalties given to careless drivers that are driving rental cars.

Akbar says they will be taking this issue further.