Nadi Accident Sparks Warning
The LTA is calling on all Public Service (PSV) drivers to put the safety of their passengers first.
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has urged members of the public to avoid travelling in overloaded buses.
The Authority in a statement issued yesterday said that people must refrain from standing at the doorway and sitting on windows because this could lead to injuries or even a fatality.
The LTA is calling on all Public Service (PSV) drivers to put the safety of their passengers first. The Authorty has reiterated that there are penalties involved if this is not followed.
In a statement yesterday, the LTA said “If a bus driver fails to comply and carries excess passengers, they can be fined contrary to regulation 39 (1) and 87 of the Land Transport (Traffic) Regulation 2000.”
The statement came in the wake of a complaint by a farmer of Tunalia in Nadi, who claimed that his son was injured after he fell off a moving overloaded bus.
The Year nine student of Swami Vivekananda College was standing on the last step of the bus and fell out after the bus hit a bump on the road last Wednesday.
The matter only came to light yesterday after the father, Jagjiwan Vikash, alleged that the bus company had reneged on an agreement to compensate his son.
“My son was standing on the last step of the bus.
“He fell on his back and sustained injuries and bruises on his elbow and again ran for few metres to hop onto the bus once again,” he said.
“This incident is serious and can happen to anyone’s son for that matter.
“I wish to take up this matter with the Land Transport Authority (LTA) to look at such issues caused by overloading passengers. Today my son is injured and tomorrow could be another child to be victim to this sort of cases.” Dominion Transport Limited Director Satya Nadan confirmed the incident, but said what was decided after that was “an agreement between the 45-year-old driver and victim’s father”.
Mr Nadan said: “I am aware about the incident that happened. On that day the bus was overloaded with passengers.
He (victim’s father) demanded $1500 to settle, but it was too much for the driver.”
Mr Nadan confirmed the driver had resumed duties on the same route.
Police spokesperson Ana Naisoro confirmed the incident happened last Wednesday on the Nadi townTunalia route.
“We have a report lodged on that matter, but it says that the victim (Alokh Jiwan Vikash) fell off the bus while getting off, but not fell off a moving vehicle,” she said. “The driver was questioned and released, but in this case we will gather all facts and submit it to the Police divisional traffic officer to assess.”