Repeat traffic offenders face tougher LTA action

Drivers in Fiji who repeatedly commit traffic violations will face tougher action from the Land Transport Authority (LTA). The authority is introducing new measures aimed at compelling safer driving habits among those who consistently accumulate infringements.

Gerald Nathan, LTA Road Safety and Awareness Team Leader, emphasized that infringement notices should be viewed as learning opportunities rather than mere punishments. He noted that some drivers continue to receive fines for the same offenses, with some accumulating speed and behavioral infringements weekly. "The infringement that has been given should not be as a punishment, it should be a learning moment," Nathan stated.

The LTA has implemented a show-cause process for drivers with repeated offenses. Provisional license holders who receive four infringements will be issued a final warning. Those reaching six infringements will no longer automatically progress after completing defensive driving courses. Under the new P1 and P2 system, these drivers will be monitored and must demonstrate responsible behavior before advancing.

Existing drivers with 15 infringements will also be required to attend a show-cause hearing to justify their repeated offending. For Public Service Vehicle drivers, accumulating 15 infringements within a three-year period will result in no automatic license renewal. The show-cause panel has the authority to impose a three- or six-month suspension or mandate a driver restoration course. Nathan explained that the ultimate goal is to change driver behavior before repeated infringements lead to more severe consequences.

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The infringement that has been given should not be as a punishment, it should be a learning moment.