Assessing the Risks of Motorcycling Home During Eid with Children
Jakarta — Eid always serves as a magnet attracting millions of people to return to their hometowns. The journey home is not merely a physical journey, but an emotional one involving the entire family, including children.
However, a distressing and alarming sight can be seen throughout the routes during the holiday exodus: thousands of motorcycles forced to carry loads exceeding their capacity, with small children wedged amongst piles of luggage and the roar of roadside traffic. In response to this annual phenomenon, the Indonesian Transport Society (MTI) has joined forces with the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) to urge the government to ban motorcycle travel with children during Eid 2026.
“MTI together with KPAI calls for a ban on motorcycle travel carrying children during Eid in 2026. This should be a matter of concern for the government,” said MTI Chairman Haris Muhammadun on Tuesday (10 March 2026).
The figures presented by Haris are not mere bland statistics. According to 2024 data, 76.64 per cent of traffic accidents involved motorcycles. This figure serves as a stark alarm that two-wheeled vehicles are simply not designed for long-distance travel with excessive loads, especially with child passengers who have far lower physical endurance than adults.
Why do motorcycles remain the preferred choice?
Lower costs are considered the primary reason why so many travellers still use motorcycles to return to their hometowns. Additionally, practicality plays a role. Upon arriving in their villages, these travellers need mobility to visit relatives and friends.
Public transport infrastructure in rural areas and small towns across Indonesia is deemed inadequate. This is what makes people feel “forced” to bring their own motorcycles from their home cities.
“We are urging the government to gradually improve rural transport and transport services in districts and small towns so that people’s mobility in their hometowns becomes easier,” said Haris.