The Land Transport Authority of Fiji is urging Fijians to follow the road rules to keep themselves and others safe after 2 serious cases where a life was recently lost due to carelessness.
Last Wednesday, a 78-year-old man was struck down and lost his life after stepping off the pavement in the path of an oncoming car and a 7-year-old child is in a serious condition in hospital after they stepped off the pavement and was struck by an approaching car.
LTA CEO Samuel Simpson says despite repeated pleas and warnings, road users and pedestrians continue to take road safety lightly.
He says they still catch people breaching speed limits and breaking other rules without any regard for fellow Fijians.
Simpson says children are particularly vulnerable as they are often not capable of properly judging the level of danger to take the necessary precautions.
He also says pedestrians should also never cross the road while using their phones or other such devices.
The LTA CEO says drivers need to be vigilant and practise defensive driving in areas of high risk where there are pedestrians on or adjacent to the public highway and adjust their speed accordingly.
He says there is no acceptable excuse for drivers to strike down and kill or seriously injure pedestrians.
Simpson says by following the road safety rules, planning ahead and being attentive, most of these tragic events can be prevented.
