your views

‘A good newspaper is a nation talking to itself’

Thinking outside the box Chandra Prakash Singh, Suva

Traffic jams, narrow roads, road humps, less overtaking lanes and the inability to reach destinations on time are causing frustration among drivers.

While bad driving habits are regarded as major contributors of road accidents there are other areas that needs attention by the relevant authorities.

Along the highways and roads in cities and towns the Fiji Roads Authority (FRA) should seriously consider making certain changes/ additions so that traffic jam is reduced, accidents are avoided and travelling time is drastically reduced.

A common concern by motorists and pedestrians is that major maintenance and upgrading works carried out on roads and along the sides should be avoided during peak hours. We all are familiar that there are many road humps along the Queens Highway especially while approaching villages. But are they necessary to have them?

When slowing down at 20km/h while crossing each hump along Suva-Nadi route travelling time is increased by at least thirty minutes.

Perhaps FRA should seriously consider removing road humps and let vehicles move freely along these areas without having to slow down many times.

While driving along the highway and particularly near road humps, I have noticed people standing close to the road and also crossing quite casually.

Instead of road humps along these areas, FRA can construct overhead walkways for people in the respective areas to cross from one side to another. This would be much safer. Near villages where there are humps FRA should build railings on both sides of the road to avoid children and adults crossing anyhow. From Suva to Sigatoka few roads are constructed in hilly areas and while ascending / descending these places are risky. Constructing more guard railings along the risky spots should be given a priority so that during any misjudgments, vehicles do not overturn, suffer damage and cause injury to passengers.

In many places along the Queens Highway, there are less overtaking lanes and more attention should be given towards this infrastructure improvement so that overtaking is much easier and safer.

Some drivers drive slowly while others want to move a little faster along the highway. When there are a few slow-moving vehicles upfront, others will have to slow down as well before getting a chance to overtake. In desperation some drivers overtake in no overtaking zone and a spontaneous action can cause a serious accident.

Near urban areas where primary or secondary schools are located, Police control traffic so that children, parents and others can cross safely from both sides.

This again causes traffic hold up, loss of travelling time and this human traffic controlling mechanism will continue for many years. FRA should consider constructing overhead walkways along such spots and crossing will be easier, traffic will move in a normal manner and manpower or time wastage could be reduced.

This will enable more Police vehicles to be based at stations, undertake patrolling, attend to emergency cases, keep vigilance on drivers breaking road rules and apprehending thieves and troublemakers.

With the increasing number of vehicles on our roads and even with more four lanes in some areas, traffic hold up will continue to be a problem if some alternative solutions are not put in place.

I hope my suggestions will be given some thought and this will create relief for drivers and pedestrians, and law enforcement agencies.

What’s happening? Samuela Kailawadoko, Nadi

Are alarm bells ringing for our Olympians in the Vodafone Fijian 7s or did they just have one of those days?

The Scottish carried too many guns for our team. Our boys were so outplayed that they must have asked, "What happened?"

My poor Fijian 7s team were stunned in suffering their heaviest defeat in this IRB series. Even as things stand the London 7s has to be proven by our team to be a well-fought contest and they must raise their game to unaccustomed heights for this last tournament. The senior boys must step-up when the tough gets going.

It must take Gareth Baber to create a pattern of rugby 7s against the opposition at London.

Otherwise if he is to provide the catalyst, the raw material i.e, all new players to play in London, at least it should fashion the next generation of players.

It may be a tough initiation, but it may be a greater transformation of fortunes.