Motorists traveling between Lautoka and Nadi may soon experience improvements in traffic conditions as the Fiji Roads Authority (FRA) plans to evaluate traffic flow and travel times along the congested Sabeto stretch during peak hours. This initiative comes in response to concerns raised by Opposition MP Ketan Lal, who criticized the installation of numerous road humps that have led to travel times exceeding one hour.
Mr. Lal argued that these measures have not merely calmed traffic but served to choke it. He emphasized that inadequate planning has adversely affected daily life, disrupted businesses, and posed a risk to emergency response times. “Workers are late, students are stressed, and yet decisions affecting thousands appear to have been made without proper consultation or traffic studies,” he expressed.
In response, the FRA defended its actions as part of its Safe System Evaluation approach. This strategy was initiated in the wake of rising road fatalities and serious injury rates. The FRA highlighted that pedestrians account for 37% of road fatalities, with 73% of fatalities and serious injuries involving individuals of economically productive age.
The authority emphasized the importance of speed management, particularly around the Sabeto area, which has a 60 km/h speed limit that continues to pose safety risks given the high pedestrian activity near schools and village frontages. As a solution, the FRA is recommending a Safe System speed of 30 km/h in these regions, which will be enforced through speed humps and raised pedestrian crossings.
Notably, the FRA has prioritized the safety of students attending the Waimalika Sabeto Sangam School following two serious pedestrian accidents involving students, both of whom were admitted to the intensive care unit at Nadi Hospital. The forthcoming assessment aims to analyze traffic dynamics to find a better equilibrium between road safety and commuter efficiency.
This review represents a step towards enhancing road safety and addressing the concerns of the community, ensuring smoother travel between key locations while protecting vulnerable road users.