All about traffic

If the local land transportation agency (DLLAJ) or traffic officers do not set regulations to curb traffic violations, Indonesia will grow further out of control -- which it has been for a long time. And now, with our new President, Abdurrahman Wahid, is the right time to start putting some order into "the system".

There are thousands of police out there who could be controlling a lot more. Please do not think me abrasive or forward in saying so, but we all know time can be used more efficiently these days, without being insulting to the police force or DLLAJ. And if computers are replacing humans, more "office-bound" police officers could be out on patrol.

Buses with streams of black smoke billowing from their exhausts should be taken off the roads. And crab-crawling motorists that have no concern for others, swaying from lane to lane, should be fined or punished.

Motorists who do not have the patience to stop at a pedestrian crossing and endanger lives should be temporarily banned from driving. Public minivans should be given specific areas to park their vans to avoid causing traffic problems.

Also, why isn't the simplest rule in the book applied here, as it is overseas in Australia and America, for example? This rule is give way to the right! That is definitely one regulation that could curb problems, and also having slow vehicles use the left lanes and fast vehicles use the right.

Driving laws overseas are far more strict and far more safe than here in Indonesia. You can lose your license temporarily if you abuse laws like ignoring a stop sign or red light.

We should really get more strict with bus drivers who seem to continuously act as if their vehicles had priority on the roads. Several times I have seen other vehicles cut off and put in unsafe situations by buses. There should be a strict law passed punishing these bus drivers. They have no right to put our lives in danger.

It is the public's life that is at stake here, so the community must be aware of their responsibilities in our society and respect others and also respect implemented laws and regulations, which are only there for our safety.

Singapore, our neighbor, has a reputation for road safety which gives it a good image. Wouldn't it be nice if we could follow suit?

C.A. PARRY

JAKARTA