Be a defensive driver, say officers, expert

Urip Hudiono, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

As the number of casualties in vehicular accidents has reached about 10,000 people per year on average, or about 30 per day, driving, particularly in hectic Jakarta, is more like walking into war.

"If motorists wish to reduce the risk of road accidents and create better traffic conditions for themselves, they should adopt safe and defensive driving techniques," said Ahmad Yani, head of the traffic safety division at the Ministry of Communications.

He was speaking at a workshop on safe and defensive driving on Saturday.

Also a speaker at the event, chief of the National Police traffic division's law enforcement and education unit, Sr. Comr. Triyono, revealed that in 2003 alone, 13,161 road accidents were reported, resulting in more than 9,278 casualties.

"A majority of these accidents -- 91 percent -- were caused by human error, mostly fatigue," he said.

Such a cause, and even technical problems like loss of brakes or tire blowouts, can also be considered careless driving, if people insist on driving even though they know they are already too tired, rarely check the condition of their vehicles or push them beyond their limits, Triyono said.

Safe and defensive driving is a concept recently introduced by several driver training organizations.

The concept, as explained by Indonesian Defensive Driving Center (IDDC) executive director Bintarto Agung, enhances motorists' basic driving skills and knowledge of traffic regulations.

"But maintaining a proper attitude on the road, like always being able to control your emotions, and being generous toward other motorists, is perhaps most important in creating better traffic conditions for all," Bintarto said.

The importance of proper attitude on the streets was also reiterated by psychiatrist Sarlito Wirawan, though he also acknowledged that motorists here were still far from adopting such driving attitudes.

"Realization and conduct still do not match -- what road users know of traffic rules and whether they really obey them," he said, adding that motorists tend to disregard traffic rules as they consider "accidents happen to other people, not us".

And though acknowledging that proper education will be the answer in the long run, Sarlito also proposed that strict, immediate enforcement of the law be implemented.

Commenting on Sarlito's proposal, Ahmad said not all motorists realized that traffic regulations were made for their own convenience and safety, so there should be no need for anyone to chase them to comply with such regulations.

"Regulations require parked cars to wait at least 25 meters clear of intersections to prevent congestion, and at least 100 meters from railway tracks to avoid possible danger. But in reality, nobody seems to observe them," he said.

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What is safe and defensive driving?

According to Indonesian Defensive Driving Center (IDDC) executive director Bintarto Agung, safe and defensive driving requires a higher level of awareness and anticipation from motorists of their driving conditions, as well as a better attitude on the road.

Bintarto cited several techniques to improve motorist awareness and anticipation:

- Full concentration when driving

- Always monitor the vehicle's 'blind spot' -- areas around a vehicle that are out of direct and rear view mirror vision

- Keep a safe distance from other vehicles -- a gap of at least two seconds from the vehicle in front.