Don’t live with regrets

This is the message being pushed out by Fiji’s road safety enforcement institutions in the build up to this year’s festive season.

So far 22 lives have been lost on our roads this year compared to 39 for the same period last year.

Launching the “Festive Season Road Safety Campaign” yesterday, Commissioner of Police Brigadier-General Sitiveni Qiliho said speeding and recklessness on our roads were the common enemies.

The campaign is expected to run for a month and is supported by the Land Transport Authority, Fiji Police Force, Accident Compensation Commission Fiji, Total Energies and Go Advertising.

“As we build up to the festive season there’ll be a lot of movement expected with the lifting of restrictions that we had in place, people want to get out and enjoy themselves and it has to be done with responsibility, caring for one’s own self and caring for other road users,” the Police Commissioner said.

He said the message must be pushed out so that people would embrace it rather than it being forced on them.

“I know the ACCF (Accident Compensation Commission Fiji) is here, that kicks in when things go wrong, but we can stop things from going wrong,” he said.

He said Police would increase their footprints and reposture themselves to avoid being predictable in their work to bring about a safe and conducive environment for Fijians to move around and enjoy the festive season responsibly.

He also highlighted that some people saw enforcement officers as the enemy.

“The common enemy is speeding because we try and enforce things for the good and safety of all and unfortunately we have people among us who portray the enforcement arms of our two institutions as the enemy and that’s a worrying trend that we have and the challenge is on us on how we deal with that,” he said.

LTA Board director and ACCF CEO Parvez Akbar said even though there might be an increase in the fatal statistics, one life lost is one life too many and the accidents could have been avoided.

“We’re in the festive season and we’re seeing drunk drivers and intoxicated pedestrians,” Mr Akbar said.

“All of this is a choice when we get behind a vehicle we choose to be intoxicated and drive drunk.

“Let’s all make the right choices because it’s in our hands. As a driver if you don’t care about your life at least care about the life of others.”