LTA beefs up road safety operations to combat road fatalities

The Land Transport Authority will continue to beef up road safety operations and snap checks on Fiji’s roads as the recent surge in road fatalities brings to attention the urgent need for all road users to adhere to and practice safe driving at all times.

LTA Acting Chief Executive Officer Irimaia Rokosawa says the message from LTA and the law enforcement is clear and drivers found breaking the law will face heavy penalties or end up behind bars.

He says these measures are vital to ensure the safety of all road users.

Rokosawa says the death of three people in Lomawai, Sigatoka over the weekend was a tragedy which served as a reminder for all drivers and pedestrians to take heed of the advice, to be alert and to exercise the duty of care while on the road.

The CEO further says they cannot stress enough on the seriousness of ignoring road safety rules as innocent lives are lost due to disregarding the safety precautions when behind the wheel.

Rokosawa says general road safety education tips and awareness were disseminated to the public through media partnerships in English, Hindi and iTaukei language which will also roll out aggressively over the next few months to ensure the vital messages on road safety is shared extensively to all communities.

He says the LTA is also working closely with key stakeholders from the public and private sector to increase awareness campaigns in society especially in approaching the festive season and back-to-school preparations as there will be a lot of movement on our roads.

The CEO says driving safely at all times is paramount as it is concerning to see that the advice and awareness on road safety continue to fall on deaf ears by some drivers who choose to endanger their lives and the lives of other road users and as a result of this, our enforcement and road safety officers will continue to work round-the-clock to monitor high-risk areas and black spots.

LTA urges people to not use mobile phones while driving, fasten seat belts, keep your distance, stay within the speed limit, take a break, and avoid using earpieces.