The
Land Transport Authority is placing more emphasis on educating the younger
generation on road safety and as part of its education program, has reached out
to 28,455 students in 64 schools in the Central Eastern region in the first
quarter of this year.
LTA Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Naisa Tuinaceva said this is to ensure Fiji
has better road users in future.
“We are focusing on the younger generation as we believe we can mold them in
becoming better road users while they are still young,” remarked Mr. Tuinaceva.
“In comparison, we have found that it is hard to persuade the older generation
to walk and drive responsibly.”
He added that a better educated younger generation would mean that in the long
term, there will be more matured parents, drivers and road users in Fiji.
“We have witnessed over the years the loss of many young lives on our roads and
each death is not only a loss to their families, but also to our country. This
is why we are urging the young ones to learn about road safety and help save
the future.”
As
part of its road safety education program, LTA also conducts community visits
and has formed 30 road safety committees along the villages on the Queens Road
and some villages in the Central Eastern region to date.
The
committees have been formed to address high fatalities in these areas.
The Authority will continue with its education program in schools and
communities and aims to reach all schools in Fiji this year.
The Authority is also constructing a road safety park at LTA headquarters in
Nasinu where children will be able to learn about road safety.
Ten
people including young ones have died on our roads to date.
Last year, a total of 65 fatalities were recorded of which the majority were
very young people.
In
2014, 49 people lost their lives on our roads.