Lal: Real road safety not about ‘hiding behind bushes’

Opposition MP Ketan Lal has renewed his criticism of the Land Transport Authority (LTA), saying its alleged practice of hiding portable speed cameras under leaves and bushes is “unethical” and does nothing to prevent accidents.

Mr Lal said while he supports strict enforcement and condemns speeding, hidden cameras serve only to record violations, not prevent them.

“Let’s be honest, hiding a camera under bushes does not save lives. It only records a violation after it happens,” Mr Lal said.
“If a driver is speeding, gets caught on camera, and then 100 meters later crashes, has the hidden camera prevented that tragedy? No, it hasn’t.”

He said true road safety lies in prevention and education, not entrapment.

“When speed cameras are visible and clearly marked with warning signs, they remind drivers to slow down and act responsibly. That’s how you save lives — through awareness and deterrence, not deception,” he said.
“The LTA’s role should be to educate, not entrap.”

Mr Lal added that safer roads can only be achieved through “honesty, transparency, and education — not secret cameras buried in the leaves.”

In response, the LTA has reaffirmed its commitment to saving lives, saying its use of both visible and covert speed enforcement operations aligns with global best practices.

“Our approach — whether through visible or covert camera operations — is fully compliant, ethical, and consistent with global best practices aimed at saving lives,” the Authority said.

LTA said portable speed cameras are strategically deployed based on safety data, focusing on high-risk corridors, school zones, and areas with frequent speeding-related crashes.

“Our goal is not to catch drivers off-guard, but to prevent dangerous behaviour that leads to deaths on our roads,” it said.

The Authority also noted the rise of motorists sharing camera locations online, saying this encourages drivers to only slow down temporarily before resuming speeding.

“This practice defeats the purpose of road safety,” LTA said.

“For this reason, we have adopted more covert operations to ensure drivers understand that enforcement can occur anywhere, anytime — and that safe driving must be constant.”

As of 8 October 2025, Fiji has recorded 58 road fatalities, compared to 44 in the same period last year. Thirty-five of those deaths were caused by speeding.

LTA said those figures underscore the urgent need for stronger deterrents and continuous driver education — while Mr Lal maintains that enforcement must remain fair, open, and focused on prevention rather than punishment.