Fiji’s Land Transport Authority Board chairman, Lui Naisara, has indicated that the country might contemplate limiting vehicle ownership to alleviate traffic congestion in the future. Although no formal policies have been established yet, discussions are underway regarding possible approaches such as implementing caps, quotas, or increasing taxes on additional vehicles as part of long-term transportation planning.
Naisara reflected on the shift in vehicle ownership dynamics, noting that owning a car has transitioned from being a luxury to a commonality for many families in Fiji. He raised an essential question about the necessity of multiple vehicles within a single household, emphasizing that this is an issue worth investigating.
Currently, there is no established benchmark in Fiji to determine the optimal number of vehicles per kilometer of road, a metric that Naisara insists must be identified before implementing any restrictions. He pointed out that traffic congestion tends to vary by district, suggesting that vehicle limitations could be tailored to specific areas, where one district may experience an overflow of cars while another may have the capacity for more.
Citing Singapore’s vehicle quota system as a potential model, Naisara acknowledged the need for a careful balance between implementing any restrictions and considering the economic repercussions, along with the impact on individual freedoms. He articulated that vehicles play a significant role in driving economic activity and reflect a society’s purchasing power, indicating that any proposed caps would need to be thoughtfully assessed.
To encourage reduced vehicle ownership without enforcing outright bans, Naisara proposed increasing taxes on second or third vehicles owned by households as a strategy to gently nudge families towards more sustainable choices. Such initiatives could ultimately lead to less congestion while still acknowledging the economic contributions cars make in everyday life.
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