More scrutiny on Buses and taxis Needed to keep Our roads safer

The tragedy of the death of a nine-year old girl in Lautoka, who was hit after disembarking at the Kadavu intersection highlights the non compliance of road rules by some drivers of passenger vehicles and big trucks.

Despite the designated bus stops and taxi bays some drivers stop to pick up and drop passengers at convenient spots with complete disregard of the inherent risks and danger to the safety of the public. Unless they are reined in and get an unambiguous message that violation of traffic rules is not tolerated, accidents, serious injuries and even deaths will continue to happen.

Who will be the next victim or victims?

Sometimes we see some buses stop in the middle of the road to drop or pick up passengers.

The Police and the Land Transport Authority should launch a joint operation to crack down on rogue drivers who are a law unto themselves. There should be zero tolerance.

They have been allowed to operate with impunity that it seems it is part of the norms. Even the law enforcers appear to have turned a blind eye.

If this fatality had not happened we probably would not be talking about this issue and the rogue drivers would be carrying on without any care in the world.

Members of the public have a role to play in this exercise also. They must go to the designated bus stops to wait for a bus and they should get off the bus at these bus stops. Sometimes it may be convenient to catch a bus on the road away from the bus stops. But this is a dangerous practice and must stop to avoid accidents. People should also lodge complaints to the Police and LTA if they see drivers flouting the rules. They should note the bus registration number, the name of the driver if possible and the time of the alleged offence with the support of pictures as evidence.

Sometimes we get the impression that some drivers of buses, big trucks and taxis ignore road courtesy because of the way they arrogantly behave on the road. They expect other motorists to give away to them all the time when they should be the ones giving way.

Some taxi drivers are notorious offenders. It would be interesting to get the stats oh how many accidents are caused by taxi drivers. While we understand that they rush around because time is of the essence in their line of business, they are not exempt from respecting road rules and courtesy. No one is above the law.

Owners of vehicles driven by these rogue drivers should take appropriate action to discipline them also.

Unless we recognise our collective responsibility and take the appropriate action, our road death toll will rise to a level that will surprise us.