The distressing number of fatalities on Fiji’s roads is of great concern to the Fijian Government.

This was highlighted by the Minister for Industry, Trade and Tourism Faiyaz Koya in Lautoka yesterday while launching the Bike Safety Awareness for the western division.

Koya said the current death toll stands at 61 as compared to 45 for the same period in 2014 – this he added is an alarming number.

There is this epidemic of gross disregard of road rules by drivers and pedestrians alike. Lives are being lost. Families suffer.

This needs to be stopped. We need to do something about this epidemic,” Minister Koya said.

The Minister also said it was time for people, both motorists and pedestrians, to change their attitudes on our roads.

The launching of the awareness in the Western Division, Koya says was an important step towards “acknowledging that there is a problem.