Report accurately, association says

An association for minibus operators and drivers has called on the media to disseminate correct information while reporting on accidents. Viti Minibuses Association spokesperson Shalendra Subhag yesterday. said that some media outlets labelled the vehicle involved in the three-vehicle crash at Nabou last Saturday as a minibus and not a private minivan. “Our minibuses are now accident free because we have reliable and responsible drivers,” he said.

In addition, he said, minibuses reported a drop in passengers after the accident, but business returned to normal after two days.

“We experienced a slight decrease in our sales during that weekend, however business returned to normal.”

In addition, he said, Viti Minibus Association drivers had valid five-year driving licences. Also, the owners of the vehicles liaise with each other and have GPS installed in most of minibuses.

“When the driver exceeds the speed limit of 80 kilometres per hour, the owners will get notified on their mobile phone and they then communicate

“Our minibuses are now accident free because we now have reliable and responsible drivers.” Shalendra Subhag Viti Minibuses Association spokesperson

with their drivers,” Mr Subhag said.

This is one of the reasons accidents involving minibuses have been reduced.

“It monitors the routes the vehicle takes so that the owner is aware of where the vehicle goes,” Mr Subhag said. The association has around 460 minibuses in Fiji and most of them are in use along the Ba-Suva corridor. Mr Subhag called on drivers to be more careful on the roads.

He pleaded with drivers to take into consideration their families when driving.