Caubati Junction Needs Traffic Lights: Residents

“Accidents at this junction have otherwise become common for me to witness”

The residents of Caubati have made fresh calls for traffic lights and better control measures at the Kings Road junction at Caubati after an accident on Friday morning.

Resident Anthony Chand who lives at the junction said it was normal for him now to witness at least two accidents a month.

“This road is heavily used by drivers and something needs to be done here importantly noting that this is a T-junction and the physical appearance of the road (makes it hard),” Mr Chand said.

Mr Chand called for the installation of traffic lights at the junction to avoid the confusion of drivers there.

He said because of the physical make-up of the road, drivers approaching the junction from Centrepoint (Nabua) would not clearly view those from the junction trying to join the main traffic and viceversa.

The drivers of the two vehicles escaped major injuries after an accident at the junction which also caused a traffic jam before midday. The Toyota Rush tumbled on the main road after it was hit by the Toyota Marino going towards Nausori.

The driver of the Toyota Rush Isaiah Narayan, was coming out of Caubati Road towards Centrepoint when he was hit by the Toyota Marino driven by Mereoni Vuase from the Centrepoint side heading towards Nausori.

Medics from a passing ambulance stopped and attended to Mr Narayan, who received minor injuries on his left hand.

Mr Narayan said he was coming out of Caubati road taking a right turn when the vehicle coming from the right side hit his vehicle on the passenger side.

“My vehicle tumbled and I was moved by the impact on the left passenger side, but I managed to get out from the window space,” he said. Ms Vuase stood shaken after the accident but escaped injuries. Mr Chand said he had to rush a victim to the hospital who received major injuries to her head and hips in an earlier accident. Another resident, Yamal Wanti who has been residing by the junction for 16 years said traffic lights were urgently needed at the junction.

The same sentiments were shared by a few other residents who were at the accident scene saying Caubati was a growing neighbourhood and traffic control was needed at the junction.

Police spokesperson, Ana Naisoro said both drivers escaped serious injuries.

She said Mr Narayan had been questioned as to why he had allegedly failed to stop his vehicle before driving out of the Caubati road and investigations continue.

Fiji Roads Authority acting chief executive Robert Sen said there were no plans in the 2017-2018 Financial Year to install a traffic signal at this junction. “However we do have the Suva Arterial Upgrading Projects (SARUP) currently underway on Kings Road from the Nabua Roundabout to the Kinoya lights,” he said.

“We will review the intersection for safety improvements.”