Avoid! Do Not Board This Bus: Beware as Ramadan Homecoming Journeys Turn Deadly
Jakarta – Indonesia’s Transportation Policy Agency (Baketrans) under the Ministry of Transportation estimates that the surge in Ramadan homecoming travel in 2026 will peak on the third day before Eid, Wednesday, 18 March 2026, whilst the return journey will reach its peak six days after Eid on Friday, 27 March 2026.
According to survey data on population movement, approximately 50.6 per cent of Indonesia’s population, equivalent to around 143.91 million people, are expected to undertake Ramadan holiday journeys. Of these travellers, approximately 76.24 million people, or 52.98 per cent, plan to travel by private vehicle, whilst 23.34 million people will travel by bus.
To ensure safe transport operations during the 2026 Ramadan holiday period, the Directorate General of Land Transportation (Ditjen Hubdat) under the Ministry of Transportation, together with provincial and district/city transport authorities, regularly conduct safety inspections (rampcheck) of passenger transport vehicles.
“These inspections aim to ensure that vehicles in operation meet technical safety and administrative requirements before serving the public,” said Yusuf Nugroho, Director of Road Transport Facilities and Safety at the Ministry of Transportation.
“Through rampcheck, we want to ensure that those using public transport to travel or visit their hometowns can feel secure, safe, and comfortable on their journeys. This ensures safe arrival at their destinations and minimises the potential for accidents and fatalities,” he added.
Nugroho also emphasised that the public has a responsibility to actively contribute to safe and comfortable travel. “It is important for residents to know how to choose safe vehicles,” he stated.
Vehicles that pass the safety inspection will display a sticker on their front windscreen as proof of compliance. Vehicles that fail to meet administrative and technical requirements will instead have a red cross sticker affixed to their windscreen.
“The public must pay attention to the sticker on the front windscreen of the vehicle they intend to board or hire. If a vehicle displays a red cross sticker, it is advisable not to use that vehicle as it is deemed not to meet safety standards,” Yusuf emphasised.
In addition to the stickers on vehicle windscreens, members of the public can use the Ministry’s Mitra Darat application to verify the roadworthiness status of passenger transport vehicles. The application allows users to check vehicle safety status, including the validity of periodic vehicle inspection certificates (KIR) and transport operation permits (KPS), by entering the vehicle’s registration plate number.