Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - Another fatal accident involving a bus has\noccurred, claiming the lives of 16 people. Previously, a single-vehicle\naccident involving a PO Cahya Trans bus at the Krapyak toll exit in\nSemarang City, Central Java, on Monday (22\/12\/2025) in the early hours,\nkilled 16 passengers and left one person with minor injuries.<\/p>\n
This time, a deadly collision occurred involving an ALS bus with\nlicence plate BK 7778 DL and a fuel tanker truck. The accident took\nplace on the Jalinsum Simpang Danau road in Karang Jaya Village, Karang\nJaya Subdistrict, Muratara, South Sumatra, on Wednesday (6\/5\/2026)\naround 12:00 WIB.<\/p>\n
Tragically, a year ago, an ALS bus on the Medan-Bekasi route with\nlicence plate B 7512 FGA also suffered a fatal accident, killing 12\npeople. It is suspected that the accident occurred due to brake failure\non the bus travelling from Bukittinggi to Padang City.<\/p>\n
Citing detikoto, Aiptu Iin Shodikin, the Traffic Unit Head of the\nMuratara Police Resort, explained the chronology of the ALS bus\naccident, which was travelling from Lubuklinggau to Jambi. It is\nsuspected that the ALS bus entered the oncoming lane to avoid a pothole,\nresulting in a collision with the fuel tanker.<\/p>\n
\u201cAccording to the surviving bus conductor, the bus swerved to the\nright. It is suspected to have been avoiding a pothole, causing it to\nenter the opposite lane and collide head-on with the oncoming fuel\ntanker,\u201d said Aiptu Iin, quoted from detikoto on Thursday\n(7\/5\/2026).<\/p>\n
As a result, 16 people died from burns, including the bus driver, and\ntwo of the fatalities were the tanker truck driver and his\nassistant.<\/p>\n
So, until when will fatal accidents continue to occur?<\/p>\n
Moreover, citing detikoto, the ALS bus in question had an expired\npermit. The bus transport permit expired on 4 November 2020. It is noted\nthat the ALS bus was registered to serve the Terminal Amplas\n(Medan)-Terminal Tawangalun (Jember) route.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, the periodic vehicle test (KIR) for the ALS bus is\nstill valid until 11 May 2026. The last KIR test was conducted on 11\nNovember 2025 at the Medan City Transportation Agency, valid for six\nmonths.<\/p>\n
Djoko Setijowarno, Advisor to the Indonesian Transportation Society\n(MTI), stated that in Indonesia, road accidents have become commonplace\nand seem not to be taken seriously.<\/p>\n
\u201cEven though on average 100 people die every day from traffic\naccidents. The government has indeed been negligent regarding road\nsafety,\u201d he stressed when contacted by CNBC Indonesia on Thursday\n(7\/5\/2026).<\/p>\n
\u201cThe KNKT must conduct an investigation because the number of victims\nis significant. A year ago, on 6 May 2025, the same operator had an\naccident in West Sumatra. At that time, 12 people died,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Therefore, added Djoko, the government must act firmly. This\nincludes, he said, not cutting the safety budget at the Ministry of\nTransportation (Kemenhub).<\/p>\n
\u201cNow there is an emergency in road transportation safety. The Public\nTransport Company Safety Management System (SMK PAU) must be implemented\nimmediately. Every day, on average, 100 people die from traffic\naccidents in Indonesia,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n
\u201cDo not cut the safety budget at Kemenhub. The government is still\nnegligent regarding road transportation safety. Immediately establish a\nSafety Directorate at the Directorate General of Land Transportation,\nMinistry of Transportation. Do not cut the operational budget of the\nKNKT,\u201d Djoko emphasised.<\/p>\n
Hellish Potholed Roads, What Can the Public Do?<\/p>\n
Regarding the suspicion that the bus driver was trying to avoid\ndamaged and potholed roads, triggering the accident, Djoko reminded that\nthe public has the right to report damaged roads and the obligation to\nreport deviations in road use.<\/p>\n
He said that the emergence of deadly potholes is clear evidence of\nnegligence by road authorities. Furthermore, suspicions of personal\ninterests behind allowing roads to remain damaged further worsen the\nsituation for the public, whose basic rights to safe roads are\nneglected.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe still often encounter damaged roads and access that has not been\nperfectly built. This condition is not merely a technical issue but a\nreal obstacle that hampers community economic and social activities,\u201d he\nsaid.<\/p>\n
\u201cRoads built at great cost seem futile due to the absence of\noversight on vehicle loads and poor maintenance,\u201d Djoko stressed.<\/p>\n
He outlined a series of regulations that serve as the legal framework\nfor potholed roads, including obligations and sanctions if ignored.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe legal framework regarding road damage in Indonesia is based on\ntwo main pillars: Law No.\u00a022 of 2009 on Road Traffic and Transportation\n(LLAJ) and Law No.\u00a038 of 2004 on Roads, which has been amended by Law\nNo.\u00a02 of 2022. These regulations clearly define the responsibilities of\nroad authorities as well as legal consequences for parties negligent in\nmaintaining road functions,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is important to understand that road repair responsibilities are\ndivided based on their status. National roads are managed by the\nMinistry of Public Works, provincial roads by the Governor, while\ndistrict\/city roads are under the authority of the Regent or Mayor.\nTherefore, before reporting or filing a lawsuit, ensure you know who\nmanages the road so that complaints are targeted correctly,\u201d said\nDjoko.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/als-bus-in-another-accident-effect-of-deadly-buses-roaming-or-hellish-roads-1778148966", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }