826 Govt vehicle crashes cost $7.39m in repairs, write-offs

Repairs and write-offs from 826 Government vehicle crashes have cost $7.39 million over the past three years, prompting the Government to recover insurance excess costs from negligent drivers through a surcharge system.

Finance Minister Esrom Immanuel, responding to a written question from Opposition MP Premila Kumar, said the accidents occurred between March 2023 and April 2026.

However, the Government's direct financial burden was significantly lower at $575,894.90 because leased vehicles were insured.

"The insurance excess costs are recovered from negligent drivers through the surcharge process upon the advice of the Solicitor-General," Mr Immanuel said.

He said 86 leased vehicles were written off during the period, valued at $4.18 million, with $87,450 paid in insurance excess to be recovered from at-fault drivers.

On fuel, Mr Immanuel said the Government spent $39.84 million fuelling its fleet since January 2023, offset by $2.32 million in fuel rebates.

Annual fuel costs were $11.32 million in 2023, $12.13 million in 2024 and $10.97 million in 2025, dropping to $5.43 million so far in 2026.

Mr Immanuel said the figures showed improving fleet management despite the ongoing accidents.

"Strengthened fleet oversight, driver accountability measures and fuel management initiatives are producing positive results, with fuel consumption trending downward," he said.

He said ministries were actively contributing to cost-containment efforts across the Government's vehicle fleet.

Background

The Fiji Sun reported in July last year that Government vehicles were involved in 756 accidents between January 2023 and February 2025, costing $7.1 million.

Then finance minister Biman Prasad said 2,330 authorised drivers were onboarded during that period, including 2,084 Police officers, with 143 involved in accidents.

Surcharges totalling $203,362.48 were imposed on at-fault drivers at the time.