Traffic deaths<\/p>\n
The death of 35 people in a Jakarta highway accident is still
\nfresh in people's minds as Indonesia marks today its annual
\nNational Traffic Day.<\/p>\n
Though only one in a series of serious road accidents in the
\ncountry during the past few years, the latest collision has
\nattracted the attention of officials in the highest levels of
\ngovernment, including President Soeharto.<\/p>\n
On that fateful Sunday evening (Sept. 14), an intercity bus
\ntraveling from Jakarta and loaded with passengers was reportedly
\nspeeding along the Cakung-Cikunir highway toward Purwodadi in
\nCentral Java.<\/p>\n
But it was slowed down by a gasoline truck which was traveling
\nat a lower speed in the same direction. While trying to overtake
\nthe gas truck -- still driving at high speed -- the bus driver
\nveered the vehicle directly into the path of an oncoming dump
\ntruck.<\/p>\n
A head-on collision was unavoidable. Twenty-nine bus
\npassengers died on impact, six died later and 12 others were
\nhospitalized for treatment. Some of those who died on the spot,
\nincluding the bus driver, had limbs or body parts severed.<\/p>\n
In terms of casualties, the Cikunir accident was the worst to
\noccur in or near Jakarta in the past three years.<\/p>\n
In March 1994, a reckless minibus driver steered his
\novercrowded vehicle into the Sunter River in North Jakarta,
\nkilling 33 passengers and injuring dozens of others.<\/p>\n
In March last year, 31 people were killed and dozens of others
\nwere seriously injured when a speeding intercity bus became an
\ninferno after slamming into three cars parked on the shoulder of
\nthe Jagorawi tollway.<\/p>\n
Traumatic as they may be, these bus accidents were only a
\nminuscule part of the total number of accidents happening every
\nday.<\/p>\n
Any person who commutes to and from work each day in Jakarta
\nknows that road accidents are almost daily occurrences. Most
\naccidents are, fortunately, of a relatively minor nature.<\/p>\n
But, according to statistics compiled by the Ministry of
\nTransportation, about 30 people die in road accidents every day.
\nPolice surveys reveal that most of these accidents are caused by
\nreckless or incompetent driving.<\/p>\n
Certainly, President Soeharto's call for greater road safety
\nand his remark that there is "no place in this country for
\nreckless drivers" has the support of everyone.<\/p>\n
The problem -- now that no less a person than President
\nSoeharto himself has publicly and explicitly expressed his
\nconcern over the situation -- is how to start bringing order to
\nan already near-chaotic traffic situation.<\/p>\n
Flawed as it may be, the present traffic law -- remember the
\npublic controversy during the draft's debate in the House of
\nRepresentatives -- should provide adequate deterrents for
\nreckless drivers and traffic delinquents. The problem is
\nenforcement.<\/p>\n
At this point, it is worth noting the public's complaint that
\nsome police officers on duty all too often prefer to deal with
\noffenders "on the spot" by accepting payoffs. Sadly, this is an
\nexisting reality that few people can deny.<\/p>\n
But blaming officers on duty not only does not solve the
\nproblem, it is clearly unfair. It tends to smear all police
\nofficers and disregards the fact that the public is equally to
\nblame for this situation. As in any transaction, it takes two to
\nconclude a deal.<\/p>\n
As we see it, many of our social problems -- traffic included
\n-- are rooted in a declining sense of discipline. Better
\nsupervision helps. But here, as in so many other cases, education
\nwill go a long way toward ensuring that regulations are obeyed,
\neven when nobody is around to censure us.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/traffic-deaths-1447899208",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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