Driving in Fiji

Praneet Singh, Sacramento, USA

So I just returned from my annual pilgrimage to the motherland, something which I have been doing for the past 20 years.

While I see a lot of progress every year, I however, am of the opinion that driving on Fiji roads is becoming a suicide mission. There seems to be a million additional cars on the road each year with the lane mile capacity to handle them at breaking point. What’s up with all the priuses on the road? Actually the plural of Prius is Prii. While the green push to reduce carbon footprint is appreciated, you don’t have to be road hogs blocking traffic while cruising below the speed before the gas turbine kicks in. Step on it!

If you get stuck behind a cane laden truck on Teidamu hill, you’d be forgiven to think that a fumigation was in progress. Those carbon offsets from the Prii is negated by this one truck billowing black smoke like mount Vesuvius. Parking is also a nightmare.

After you go around a city block five times and find a spot to parallel park, some lunatic dives in nose first in that spot and tries to wiggle in like a caterpillar in a cocoon. Can’t you see I was parking, is met by what the heck are you doing there retort.

Well young lady, if you were paying attention at the driving class, that’s how you parallel park. You move parallel to, well never mind. Also, what’s up with those drivers who drive at snail pace and as soon as you try to overtake they hang slightly over the centre line blocking your oncoming view. Or the nut job who speeds up the moment you pull parallel. Many of you will end up kneeling before St Peter if you drove like that in the US, because of road rage.

A few months back, I had an open heart surgery to fix six arterial contractions. Driving in Fiji surely tested the internal plumbing. I am glad to report the elbows and tee joints on the bypass are still intact.

By the way cop cars, speed up and don’t hold traffic. Forever Fijian.