Over 28 000 students trained on road safety

Better educated younger generation, more matured parents, drivers and road users in the future

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) is placing more emphasis on educating the younger generation on road safety. As part of their education programme, they have 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 Naisa Tuinaceva said this was to ensure Fiji has better road users in the future. “We are focusing on the younger generation as we believe we can mould 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 would be more matured parents, drivers and road users in Fiji.

As part of its road safety education programme, LTA has also conducted 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 programme 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. 10 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.

LTA reached out to 28,455 students in 64 schools in the Central Eastern region