Idul Fitri travellers risk traffic hazards<\/p>\n
Yuli Tri Suwarni and ID Nugroho, The Jakarta Post, Bandung\/Surabaya<\/p>\n
The Idul Fitri holiday in which millions of people will return to
\ntheir hometowns in West Java and East Java this year, may be
\novershadowed by traffic congestion, accidents and natural
\ndisasters, especially landslides, warn police and local
\ngovernment officials.<\/p>\n
Governments in both provinces have made the necessary
\npreparations to ensure a smooth journey home for travellers.<\/p>\n
In East Java province, the provincial police and the
\ntransportation office here are on high alert in areas prone to
\nvehicular accidents and landslides.<\/p>\n
The accident-prone areas, according to the authorities, are
\nlocated along the north coast highway and the southern part of
\nJava, particularly in Bangil, Pasuruan, Situbondo, Banyuwangi,
\nCaruban, Madiun, Ngawi and Magetan.<\/p>\n
The minister of transportation has even discouraged people
\nfrom traveling in private cars on the north coast highway.<\/p>\n
The precaution is necessary as drivers are inclined to speed
\nalong the lengthy and winding stretch of highway. \"Integrated
\nposts will manned by the police, transportation office, the Jasa
\nRaharja state insurance company and several organizations
\nconcerned with the safety of travelers, to oversee the areas,\"
\ndeputy head of the East Java Transportation Office, Hari Sugiri,
\ntold The Jakarta Post recently.<\/p>\n
Some 7.3 million people are expected to return home during
\nIdul Fitri from various cities nationwide, especially Jakarta.
\nThere are 35 million people living in East Java.<\/p>\n
Personnel manning the posts located in 38 regencies and
\nmayoralties in East Java will inform road users about conditions
\non the roads. The police will also give more attention to
\ntravelers using motorcycles, as their numbers will probably rise
\ndrastically.<\/p>\n
Another possible hazard is landslides. The transportation
\noffice has identified 15 danger points in East Java, due to the
\nfact that there may be heavy rain during Idul Fitri. Among the
\nareas prone to landslides are Babat, Bojonegoro, Caruban, Madiun,
\nPonorogo, Pacitan, Jember and Banyuwangi regencies.<\/p>\n
In West Java province, the provincial government is preparing
\nto face horrendous traffic congestion in the area, as millions of
\npeople are expected to travel through various roads in the
\nprovince. More than three million travelers are estimated to be
\ntraveling throughout West Java overland, 1.3 million of them
\noriginating from cities in West Java alone.<\/p>\n
The Ministry of Transportation has estimated that some 17
\nmillion people will be leaving for their hometowns from various
\nplaces nationwide, mostly to the three provinces on Java island:
\nWest Java, Central Java and East Java.<\/p>\n
In order to help tackle the imminent traffic congestion, the
\nWest Java Transportation Office will install closed circuit
\ntelevision systems in six points prone to traffic congestion in
\nthe area to inform personnel and road users of conditions on the
\nroads.<\/p>\n
Head of the West Java Transportation Office, Endang Sobirin,
\nsaid the six areas where the system would be installed were
\nPadalarang, Cileunyi, Nagrek, Kadipaten, Patrol and Palimanan.<\/p>\n
The system, funded by the central government with assistance
\nfrom the local Telkom office, will assist traffic police and the
\nWest Java Land Transportation Agency personnel in efforts to ease
\ncongestion and in rerouting traffic to alternative roads.<\/p>",
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