Supervise your teen drivers, Youth Minister reminds parents

Parents have been urged not to allow their children to drive vehicles unsupervised to reduce road accidents involving minors.

Minister for Youth, Jese Saukuru, said there have been numerous incidents where children were seen driving on public roads without supervision, resulting in accidents where they became either victims or perpetrators.

Mr Saukuru stressed that even older children with valid driver’s licences should still be supervised by an adult.

“If parents feel they cannot supervise, they should not grant consent for the child to drive alone,” he said.

For working parents, he advised keeping vehicle keys with them rather than leaving them at home, to prevent children from accessing vehicles without permission.

“It goes back to the parents. Good guidance on driving within road safety regulations will help children avoid being involved in car crashes or accidents,” he added.

With school holidays now in effect, Mr Saukuru reminded parents to ensure vehicle keys are kept securely and not left where children may be tempted to drive without consent.

Labasa Taxi Association general secretary, Sujit Sharma, said youths and inexperienced drivers should face fines if they breach road safety rules or drive irresponsibly.

He said the risk of unsupervised driving among older children increases during the school break.

Mr Saukuru also called on the Land Transport Authority (LTA) to strengthen road safety awareness at the grassroots level, particularly in rural communities.

“Travelling around Fiji, I have received numerous requests for the LTA to conduct outreach programs. In Naitasiri, villagers are calling for awareness sessions,” he said.

The Minister reaffirmed his support for the current minimum driver’s licence age of 18, despite calls from some motor vehicle associations to raise it to 21.

He added that with proper supervision, young licensed drivers could support their families with transportation for household responsibilities and access to education.