A recent road accident involving a 17-year-old driving without a valid license has intensified the push for Fiji’s two-tier provisional licensing system implementation. The tragic incident comes despite the Land Transport Amendment Bill being passed in Parliament, as authorities reveal necessary system upgrades remain incomplete before the law can be enacted.
Naisa Tuinaceva, the Assistant Minister for Public Works, stressed the importance of properly executing the newly approved provisional license system, emphasizing the need for careful consideration and adherence to processes that prioritize public safety. “You simply cannot just put that on the board and say, ‘Okay, it’s done now.’ No, you need to go through the system,” Tuinaceva remarked, highlighting the critical nature of road safety.
Irimaia Rokosawa, Chief Executive of the Land Transport Authority (LTA), noted that while legislative changes have been authorized, implementation requires significant system updates. The two-tier licensing framework, characterized by P1 and P2 stages, aims to nurture safe driving behaviors and lessen road accidents among novice drivers. The urgency for these reforms is underscored by a previous report indicating approximately 20% of road fatalities were linked to provisional drivers engaging in reckless behaviors, despite a general decrease in overall road fatalities from 78 in 2023 to 54 in 2024.
The government is committed to road safety, with upcoming budgets focused on enhancing road regulations and fostering responsible driving practices. Tuinaceva also emphasized that the response to the recent accident reflects a broader societal commitment toward ensuring safety for all road users.
While the path to enacting these improvements may be slow, the collective efforts of the government and LTA pave the way for a brighter, safer future on Fiji’s roads. Enhanced educational initiatives and stricter regulations are expected to cultivate a culture of accountability and responsibility among drivers, heralding an optimistic outlook for road safety in Fiji.
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