WITH more than 20,000 bookings annually, the Land Transport Authority will now introduce cameras to catch speeding drivers on Fiji's roads.
LTA chief executive Naisa Tuinaceva yesterday revealed that four speed cameras worth $250,000 should arrive early next month and ready for use in July.
"These cameras will be hidden," Mr Tuinaceva said. "But you should be informed that you were caught speeding within three days."
Speeding is the number one cause of road accidents in Fiji. The cost of accidents to the country is about $136million a year, which is almost 25 per cent of our infrastructure budget.
Zooming in on the most notorious road crime, Mr Tuinaceva said in the last five months, there had been 600 road accidents already and 16 deaths.
The LTA is also discussing with lawmakers the possibility of increasing fines and even imprisonment as a deterrent for habitual offenders.
However, Mr Tuinaceva was confident the authority is not fighting a losing battle.
"Whether you drive or walk or stand by the road, we all bear a responsibility towards road safety," he said.
"And the glaring truth is that many don't take that responsibility seriously. Simple road rules are not followed, roads are misused and lives are lost," Mr Tuinaceva said.