Motorists told to beware as holidaymakers return<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): With the Idul Fitri holiday over, roads across
\nthe country are expected to be crowded in the coming week with
\nrevelers returning home.<\/p>\n
Police urged motorists on Monday to be extra cautious to avoid
\ntraffic accidents on the busy roads, which saw an increase in the
\nnumber of traffic fatalities prior to and during the holiday.<\/p>\n
Central Java Police traffic directorate head Col. Utjin
\nSudiana told Antara news agency on Monday provincial police
\npersonnel would remain on duty in accident-prone areas as long as
\nthe roads were crowded with holiday travelers. He particularly
\nurged drivers using the south-coast route and remote roads to be
\ncautious.<\/p>\n
Two deaths occurred along the main north-coast route during
\nthe holiday season, while the south and central routes have so
\nfar claimed 20 lives, including three fatalities during the two
\ndays of Idul Fitri celebrations on Saturday and Sunday.<\/p>\n
The worst accident took place in Wonosobo on Wednesday last
\nweek, when a bus plunged into a ravine, killing 14 passengers.
\nThe bus, traveling from Jakarta, was two kilometers away from its
\ndestination when the accident occurred.<\/p>\n
Another bus drove into a ravine in Banyumas later in the week,
\nleaving two dead and 10 injured.<\/p>\n
Utjin said most of the accidents were caused by human error,
\nincluding tired drivers and inadequate knowledge of the terrain.<\/p>\n
Central Java is a major destination for travelers celebrating
\nthe Muslim holiday.<\/p>\n
Police in Balikpapan, a main town in East Kalimantan, reported
\ntwo deaths in three traffic accidents during Idul Fitri.<\/p>\n
Local police chief Lt. Col. Tommy Sagiman said the accidents
\ntook place on Jl. Gatot Subroto, Jl. Panjaitan and Jl. Cipto
\nMangunkusumo.<\/p>\n
Tommy expressed delight over the small number of accidents and
\nfatalities, attributing it to strict discipline by motorists and
\nthe police's preparation for handling the increased traffic
\nduring the holiday.<\/p>\n
Police in the neighboring town of Kutai recorded four traffic
\naccidents in the same period, but reported no deaths. The
\naccidents included a bus loaded with passengers which overturned
\nwhile descending a slope on Bukit Soeharto, leaving a number of
\npassengers with severe injuries.<\/p>\n
In Palembang, the capital of South Sumatra, three people were
\nkilled and 15 injured in traffic accidents on Saturday and
\nSunday.<\/p>\n
A six-year-old boy identified as Aidil Darfani died after
\nbeing run over by a truck on a street near his house in Mainan
\nvillage, Musi Banyuasin regency.<\/p>\n
A woman identified as Rosdiana, 51, a resident of Jl. Seduduk
\nPutih in Palembang, died when her car collided with a bus on
\nSumatra highway. Another woman also killed in the accident has
\nyet to be identified. The woman was about 48 years of age.<\/p>\n
Ports, meanwhile, are also bracing for returning
\nholidaymakers. The head of state-owned Bakauheni ferry port in
\nLampung, Djatmiko, expected the number of people returning to
\nJava would peak between Thursday and Saturday. He estimated the
\nnumber of ferry passengers would reach between 50,000 and 60,000
\nduring the peak period.<\/p>\n
Separately, the chief of Ketapang ferry port in Banyuwangi,
\nKarimun Soedono, said the port had added nine ferries to help
\ntransport people traveling to Bali from Java. (amd)<\/p>",
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