Frustration on our roads
Phillip Low, Suva
I think the time has come to voice the opinion of many people like myself who have been driving for many of years now (for me its just over 30 years with many a lot longer); who are absolutely sick of the road idiots.
I will state the obvious as many are oblivious to it!
Pedestrians:
You must all realise by now that you are not stronger than a moving vehicle. That you are not Thor or Superman or some super hero that can fend off a moving vehicle. You must also realise, that we drivers also do not have super human vision or that of a dog; so that we are able to see you in the dark! You simply cannot walk on dark roads with dark clothing on and expect us to see you, because by the time we do, it is too late!
Running across busy roads is not only putting yourself at risk but other road users as well. If we have to avoid you, it means running into other vehicles or going off the road which will injure people in those respective vehicles or other pedestrians.
When getting off your bus, have patience!! – let the bus go before even attempting to cross the road. The only reason you want to get across the road quickly is to avoid eye contact with those in the bus. (madua syndrome). So stay put and stay safe!
PSV drivers:
Yes, that means all of you taxi drivers, bus drivers, mini bus drivers and illegal taxi operators, etc. Your total disregard for the laws of the road and total disregard for other road users is what causes traffic jams and accidents. Do you realise, that you all complain about each other and how terrible the other PSV drivers are? Ask any passenger … you all are guilty of being inconsiderate and discourteous on the roads.
Do you also realise that you taxi drivers/mini bus drivers make dangerous turns and sudden stops with dangerous swerving to the side of the road when you spot a passenger? Risking thousands of dollars of damages and your life just for a mere $2-$5 fare? Well you do!
Bus drivers, you rarely use bus stops and choose to risk passengers lives by stopping in danger zones that you are too ignorant to see or even acknowledge. You bus drivers also stop where ever you feel like, with total disregard for other road users. You drive at 15 km along any road trolling for last minute passengers who can jump on at will, after they dangerously run, ducking and dodging through traffic. You are a major contributor to traffic jams in Fiji and putting a lot of passengers at risk. Take responsibility and put a stop to this!
The bottom line is this, you are all arrogant drivers and ignorant to the fact, that there are rules to be followed and obeyed. You may think that you are the only road user because you spend the majority of your day on the road, but here’s a little insight for you…..We pay our road taxes as well !!!
Retired drivers:
We do know that you deserve the best and all the respect after many years of hard work. However, because you don’t have to be anywhere in a hurry, it doesn’t entitle you to hug the white line and drive at 20km. Its your right to go slow, but move to the side and let us by.
Young drivers:
You have to realise that what you have in your hands is a lethal weapon. Your poor judgement to speed, along with your inability and lack of experience to control this speed, is what’s killing your generation and mine. You may survive a road crash, but think about the possible grief you will bring to the families of the victims you kill – some of them will be your own family members or friends!
Police and LTA drivers:
Ever wonder why there is no respect for the flashing red and blue lights anymore? Because you abuse it and drive around all day with them flashing for no reason. Even I, don’t take much notice of it anymore, because the majority of the time you are “crying wolf”.You will never see this happening in any other country.
Being full of self importance doesn’t help your cause or gain respect. In fact you lose a lot more.
You in fact, do get more frustrated with this disrespect of your flashing lights.
Respect your position of authority and others will respect you.
All drivers:
Queuing across intersections won’t get you to your destination faster, in fact you create more of a traffic jam and reduce your chances of getting to your destination sooner. Just a little bit of common sense (I am not asking you to hurt yourself to think), but just a bit of common sense goes a long way.
When it’s raining or a getting dark, switch your lights on and be seen! It’s as if you’re afraid that your battery will go flat and your bulbs will burn, if you use them too often!
The important thing is that you will be alive to buy another. Drivers of Fiji what it does come down to is this:
Common sense must be used and it isn’t an optional extra whilst driving, which goes the same for your indicators and lights – USE THEM ALL!
Common Courtesy – giving way to one vehicle won’t delay your journey but in fact speed it up. Imagine if every single driver gave way at the same time on the same day?
Just simply following the road rules will save everyone’s life, time and money. Speeding and also driving too slow are both dangerous. We all know that speed kills, when in fact it is also proven that you are more likely to cause or be involved in a road accident by driving way below the speed limits. Some countries have now made it illegal to drive too slow.
Remember the worst and the most fatal decisions are always made at intersections. Look, think and be patient.
Pedestrians of Fiji, what it comes down to is this:
The road is not a play ground, teach your children this, teach your co-workers this (As some adults are worse than children).
Hold your children’s hands while walking along the road, they haven’t developed the full awareness of an adult.
Toddlers do not know the roads and its dangers. Parents should be arrested for letting toddlers run freely on the road – unfortunately this is very common scenario in Fiji. Drivers get the blame for your stupidity and pure negligence.
Walk on the side and not on the middle of the road. If you ever notice for some reason or the other, the footpath is rarely used, why?
At night wear light coloured clothes and be seen, use your phone for something useful and switch the light mode on, to show drivers in both directions that you are there.
Intoxication doesn’t make you indestructible, it makes you stupid. Don’t try and take on a moving vehicle when you are drunk, you will lose. So keep your wits about you.
At the end of the day if we all stop being careless, stop being stupid, stop being arrogant and ignorant on our roads, we may actually have a chance of reducing Fiji’s road problems.
If we all start being a bit more courteous, have a bit more patience and use a whole lot more common sense than we could change Fiji back to the old days when we waved at other drivers and not flick them the birdy, as drivers commonly do today.
If this letter gets read by at least 30 per cent of road users and the message clearly understood – we might actually have a chance of changing Fiji roads.
Coke Zero Deans
Amenatave Yaconisau, Delainavesi
The loss to RKS in that disappointing 2015 final should not keep the Marist brigade down. They gulped the bait last year and they lost. It has been distributed again giving praise to the Flagstaff boys and RKS the underdog. This psychology has started again and we bought it last year hook line and sinker, and we received a see you later.
These are sharp words of praise that are net to our advance and a deadly arrow indeed. This is an old Fijian trick (veicavilaki) to hype confidence but hidden behind is that enthusiasm to defeat.
We won’t buy it this time around even if you make us God. One of the greatest Kings in the Bible, David attributed victory and power to the Lord in Chronicle 29(11). For people who know the atmosphere of rivalry and camaraderie of schoolboy’s rugby this is champagne atmosphere especially when the boys of Flagstaff play their mates from Lodoni at this level. May the best win.
VKB
Alisi Waqanika Daurewa, Suva
The current debate on whether children of iTaukei mothers (vasu) and non-iTaukei fathers should or should not be registered under their mother’s mataqali in the Vola ni Kawa Bula (VKB) has always been an on-going issue.
My understanding of the custom of registering the vasu primarily applies to children born out of wedlock regardless of the ethnicity of their biological father.
From observation however, some vasu born in wedlock are also registered under their mother’s clan.
There are even instances of children born out of wedlock registered under their step-father’s clan.
And the reasons for these are best known to the families and/or clans themselves.
Now in going back to the drawing board, it is worth recalling that the VKB which is housed by the iTaukei Land and Fisheries Commission and, the iTaukei Land Trust Board were created by the Colonial Government to protect iTaukei land from conniving chiefs and Europeans.
However, despite the presence of these institutions, the iTaukei would be naïve to assume that their land and iqoliqoli are totally protected.
My experience reveal otherwise.
It is now up to the iTaukei to mobilise their wisdom collectively via their various fora to address what they see as threats to losing their heritage. And do something about it!
I for one belong to one of the bigger land owning units in Kadavu Province. My mataqali land also includes parcels of land in other districts of Kadavu.
There is also one iqoliqoli which sits between two districts from across the island where my village of Natumua sits.
My mataqali however is threatened with extinction if we do not produce more male heirs to continue our lineage.
An obvious option would be to re-visit a past practice of our ancestors where they invited their vasu and kajikaji (anyone with a link to the clan) for the purpose of strengthening their power-base in warfare.
In the present, this could equate to also registering some of our vasu born in wedlock. Even landless Fijians with some mataqali blood would be a worthy consideration.
Both for the purpose of sustaining our mataqali.
Otherwise, our land and iqoliqoli will be left to the Government’s discretion as an extinct mataqali.
Feedback: jyotip@fijisun.com.fj