MORE than 35 drivers in Vanua Levu had their licences suspended and appeared before a disciplinary hearing at the Lands Transport Authority office in Labasa.
The drivers have records of habitual traffic violations, with one recording as many as 124 offences while others have an average of 60 violations.
A show-cause hearing presided by the authority's chief executive, Naisa Tuinaceva, yesterday was for drivers to explain why their licences shouldn't be seized.
"It's not a licence to kill, and having traffic violations on the high end shows a heartless attitude towards the safety of other road users or human life," he said. "Every day they drive they are being hazardous to the safety of others. LTA has the responsibility to ensure roads are safe, the travelling public is safe and within that safe environment promote an enjoyable driving experience, not fear.
"By extension, all road users, especially drivers, share that responsibility and when they cannot show they can be trusted with it, their licences will be taken back which is a declaration that they are unfit for our roads. Many drivers tend to forget that all licences belong to the government and it's only with them on a hire arrangement with attached conditions."
Mr Tuinaceva said licence suspension or cancellation would be used as a last resort.
toe the line because we certainly don't have room for bad, reckless, disrespectful, dangerous and inconsiderate drivers," he added.