The Land Transport Authority (LTA) alongside the Fiji Police Force has issued a call for heightened caution among road users following a heart-wrenching accident in Dreketi, Labasa, which claimed the life of an eight-year-old boy. This tragic event unfolded when the child, who had just exited a transport carrier, unexpectedly stepped onto the roadway and was struck by an oncoming vehicle.
Initial reports from the scene revealed that the impact of the collision thrust the child approximately 24 meters away from where he was hit, landing him on the tar-sealed road. Irimaia Rokosawa, the Chief Executive of the LTA, expressed profound sorrow for the child’s family and emphasized the critical need for increased road safety awareness, particularly in areas with heavy foot traffic from children, such as school drop-off and pick-up zones.
Rokosawa reiterated the importance of vigilant driving, warning that “speeding kills,” and that non-compliance with traffic regulations will result in penalties. This incident marks a sad turn in the road safety statistics, breaking a recent trend of improvement that saw no fatalities in February. Currently, the road death toll stands at three, a significant decrease from the 15 fatalities recorded during the same period last year.
The LTA has previously raised alarms regarding children’s unpredictable behavior around roadways, underscoring the need for collective responsibility among parents, guardians, drivers, and the broader community to safeguard vulnerable road users.
While the community grapples with the grief of this loss, there remains a hopeful outlook. Continued efforts to enhance public awareness about road safety are showing signs of effectiveness, as evidenced by the overall decrease in road fatalities this year. Authorities are optimistic that through collaboration and community involvement, future tragedies can be prevented, contributing to a safer environment for all, especially children.
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