Some 35, 645 traffic offences were recorded by the Fiji Police Force in the last 11 months.

And, out of this, 25,790 cases were of speeding.

Director of Traffic, Senior Superintendent of Police Mahesh Mishra released the figures on traffic offences during a press conference at the Nabua Police Station in Suva yesterday.

He said the traffic infringements were recorded from January 1 to December 4.

“When we talk about the road users, one of the things we are much concerned is the driver’s attitude and driver habit,” SSP Mishra said.

“Fiji Police Force cannot alone reduce the road death toll.

“It is the collective and a multi sector approach which includes various stakeholders that are responsible in road safety and also the key player; the road user themselves.

“When we do our analysis on traffic infringements, traffic accidents and road fatalities, one of the major indications that give us while the incident happened is ignorance, cross negligence and driver attitude and behavior.”

He said some drivers with bad driving behaviour and committing serious traffic offences had been given traffic infringement notices for various charges.

“But unfortunately that habit never changed and this is our major concern as we are trying to maintain the safety of all road users,” SSP Mishra said.

He said: “During the festive season, our focus will be how best we can ensure the road users remain within the limit of the law and the other side those who are taking charge, we will try our best to take them to task.”

He said the Fiji Police Force would conduct breathalyser tests during peak and off peak hours, traffic spot checks also speed operations on major roads as well as checking on driving licence for drivers on the road.

The current death toll stands at 49 while the Fiji Police Force are waiting for the post mortem report for the two recent separate fatal accidents that occurred in the Western Division.

Edited by Rusiate Mataika

Feedback:  ashna.kumar@fijisun.com.fj