Bus drivers and responsibility

Bus drivers and responsibility

From Media Indonesia

The Kramatjati bus tragedy on the Jagorawi toll road that
claimed 30 lives on March 23, 1996, was just one of many road
calamities to have recently taken place.

In most cases passengers reportedly warned their drivers
to slow down and protested their reckless driving. But, as usual,
the drivers rarely take heed of their passengers' concerns. When
it is too late, the drivers then flee the accident sites to avoid
responsibility.

Society must help relieve the burden on the police, of which
there are too few.

According to article 47 of traffic law No. 14/1992, drivers
have the right to drop off a passenger if the passenger is
disturbing other passengers. Would it be unfair to include a
paragraph in the traffic law that gives the passengers the right
to warn the driver if he is driving dangerously?

The government has called for the public's help in upholding
the law by reporting incidents to the police. But in reality,
most are reluctant because they doubt if the authorities will
respond. It would be much more effective to have a law. Then the
drivers would think twice before violating regulations or
ignoring their passengers.

DARMAWAN SOEDARSONO

Jakarta