The Land Transport Authority (LTA) and Fiji Police Force are urging road users to exercise extreme caution following a tragic accident in Dreketi, Labasa, which resulted in the death of an eight-year-old child. The unfortunate incident occurred yesterday when the child, having just exited a transport carrier, unexpectedly crossed the road and was struck by an oncoming vehicle.
Preliminary reports indicate the force of the collision propelled the young boy about 24 meters from the point of impact, landing him on the tar-sealed road. LTA Chief Executive Irimaia Rokosawa expressed his deep condolences to the grieving family and reinforced the importance of heightened road safety awareness, particularly in areas frequented by children, such as school pick-up and drop-off zones.
Rokosawa cautioned drivers to remain vigilant, emphasizing that “speeding kills,” and that those who fail to adhere to traffic laws will face penalties. His remarks come in light of this incident, which disrupts a previous trend of improved road safety, with February recording no fatalities. The current road death toll now stands at three, compared to 15 during the same period last year.
The LTA has previously highlighted similar concerns, noting that children often behave unpredictably near roadways. This tragic accident echoes other recent incidents involving child pedestrians, stressing the shared responsibility of parents, guardians, drivers, and the community to protect the most vulnerable road users.
Despite the sorrow surrounding these events, there is a glimmer of hope: initiatives aimed at increasing public awareness of road safety may be yielding positive effects. The decrease in the overall road death toll indicates that ongoing efforts to enhance safety practices are starting to take effect. Authorities hope that through collaborative efforts and community engagement, further tragedies can be averted, fostering a safer environment for everyone, especially children.
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