Tighten your seat belt<\/p>\n
It is surprising that most drivers in Jakarta, home to more
\nthan two million cars, are reluctant to wear seat belts, putting
\ntheir lives at risk in case of accident.<\/p>\n
Since Nov. 5, all drivers and passengers in the front seats of
\nvehicles have been required to wear seat belts, as stipulated by
\nMinistry of Communications Decree No. 85\/2002, which regulates
\nthe implementation of Article 23 of Traffic Law No. 14\/1992.<\/p>\n
During the first two days of an initial six-month trial
\nperiod, we learned that wearing a seat belt seems somewhat
\nburdensome to most drivers in Jakarta. Many of them said there
\nwas no reason to wear a seat belt because most of the streets in
\nthe city were so congested with traffic.<\/p>\n
There were similar reservations in the 1980s when
\nmotorcyclists were required to wear helmets. However, the
\ncomplaints gradually faded away as the public became aware of the
\nimportance of protecting themselves on the roads.<\/p>\n
It is clear that the 11-year-old Traffic Law has yet to gain
\nwide acceptance. According to the law, those who fail to wear
\ntheir seat belt are subject to a Rp 1 million fine or a month in
\njail.<\/p>\n
In the meantime, it is interesting to note the attitude of
\nmost Indonesian motorists. They never fail to complain if the car
\nthey just bought does not have seat belts for the front seats.
\nThey also always make sure the new motorcycle they just ordered
\nfrom the dealer has a proper lighting system. But what happens
\nafter that? The seat belts are left unused. Motorcycles speeding
\nalong the streets without bothering to signal, or even to turn on
\ntheir headlights after dark, are a common sight on Jakarta's
\nstreets.<\/p>\n
The wearing of seat belts, it seems, depends on attitude,
\nrather than any awareness of safety. Car owners should be aware
\nthat wearing a seat belt while driving shows respect for their
\nown lives and the lives of others.<\/p>\n
Records made available by the Directorate General of Land
\nTransportation indicate that over the last five years, almost 30
\npeople a day have died in traffic accidents across the country.
\nThirty-three percent of the victims died of serious head injuries
\nthat could have been prevented had they been wearing seat belts.<\/p>\n
What makes motorists defy traffic regulations?<\/p>\n
The government recently announced plans to require all
\nprivately owned vehicles to undergo periodic roadworthiness tests
\n-- as required by the Traffic Law -- beginning next year.<\/p>\n
Drivers responded to this announcement with protest, saying
\nthat roadworthiness tests for vehicles would only enrich those
\nofficials in charge of the testing. Car owners, it seems, would
\nprefer to bribe the officials to get a roadworthiness
\ncertificate.<\/p>\n
Many people have suggested the government clean up its own
\noffices before testing vehicles. The public's defiance of traffic
\nregulations is mainly the result of poor law enforcement. Every
\nday across Jakarta traffic violations take place in plain view,
\nincluding the illegal occupation of sidewalks, which according to
\nthe Traffic Law is subject to a maximum fine of Rp 1 million or
\none month in jail.<\/p>\n
We can only sigh every time we see the police allow motorists
\nto violate the rules. We can only guess at what is on the
\nofficers' minds. While such ignorant officers are found
\neverywhere, people are fed up with the unscrupulous officers who
\ntake bribes to allow traffic violators to walk free. But both
\nmotorists and law enforcers have failed to respect and promote
\ntraffic regulations for years.<\/p>\n
With most people uncertain whether traffic will ever get
\nbetter in the future, especially in big cities like Jakarta, the
\ngovernment is attempting to restore its authority by gradually
\nimplementing the almost-forgotten Traffic Law.<\/p>\n
The step-by-step implementation of the law indicates that the
\ngovernment is acting with great prudence as it tries to
\nanticipate the possible reaction from the public, which has
\nbecome suspicious that anything related to traffic regulations
\nends up in bribery.<\/p>\n
The six-month trial period the government has given motorists
\nto become accustomed to the seat belt regulation should help
\ndrivers abide by the law. However, it is imperative that all
\nparties, including the military, police officers and government
\nofficials, be bound by the law. Everyone must honor the Traffic
\nLaw. Only in this way will it eventually be properly respected
\nand endorsed by the public, government officials and law
\nenforcers.<\/p>\n
Let us hope that, as of today, drivers will tighten their seat
\nbelts the moment their cars begin to move.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/tighten-your-seat-belt-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}