Traffic in Jakarta<\/p>\n
After some years of living in Jakarta I have come up with the
\nfollowing thoughts and comments. Firstly, why do drivers become
\ndifferent people once behind the wheel? I think it is because
\nthey live in an authoritarian world. You start off from the house
\nand a spouse and family who probably spent the previous night and
\nthat morning giving you a hard time. Then you get to work to find
\na boss about to do the same thing.<\/p>\n
The evening brings about the opportunity for the whole process
\nto start once more. So your only chance to escape and take
\ncontrol of your own little kingdom, with no one to boss you
\nabout, is when you sit behind the wheel of your car. Here you are
\nin charge with the ability to control your own destiny. It is
\nhere where you can decide whether you give way or charge ahead
\nregardless of the others around you. But being considerate and
\ngiving way to your fellow motorists is akin to accepting orders
\nfrom someone else. So, being in charge, you decline and become a
\nroad rat. You see, the problem with giving way to one motorist is
\nthat the ten cars behind him accept your kind offer too,
\nirrespective of whether you intended to let in the whole side
\nstreet or not. Consequently, you become reluctant to give way.<\/p>\n
I believe that the authorities have and continue to make big
\nimprovements to the roads of Jakarta. The emergence of toll
\nroads, widening and resurfacing of roads, new traffic lights etc.
\nHowever, the biggest problem is caused by the drivers themselves.
\nSelfish, careless and inconsiderate driving habits will continue
\nto thwart the efforts of the city planners and police. The police
\nalso need to look at setting up a special division whose job is
\nsolely controlling traffic at major intersections and
\nbottlenecks. These officers should then man their intersections
\nrain or shine every day during the main transit times.<\/p>\n
The authorities need to spend large sums of time and money or
\nre-educating the masses using multi-media at every level.
\nEveryone thinks that the way things are is the norm, and that it
\nwill take an effort by someone else to change the situation. But
\nlet's be quite clear, the change is with us, each and every one
\nof us. But the authorities must show us the way and be resolute
\nabout maintaining it. Some simple suggestions to start with. Re-
\nintroduce and improve the anti-grade lock controls at major
\nintersections, using yellow paint of better quality, and place
\nclear signs at the entrance to such intersections. Traffic round-
\nabouts currently operate on the old Dutch system where traffic
\nentering the round-about has right of way. But even the Dutch are
\nnow changing to the British way where traffic already on the
\nround-about has right of way. One last thing, if someone does
\ngive way to you, please show your hand as a way of saying \"Thank
\nYou,\" -- it's the least you can do.<\/p>\n
LEWIS TURNER<\/p>\n
Bogor, West Java<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/traffic-in-jakarta-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }