Deni Ojol's Story of Rising from Adversity After Leg Amputation
A ride-hailing driver named Deni (47) from Cipondoh, Tangerang, has recounted his experience of rising from adversity after his leg was amputated. He said his leg had to be amputated following an accident caused by drowsiness while riding.
During the Road Safety Festival with 5,150 online motorcycle taxi (ojol) drivers at the Police Traffic Education Centre in South Tangerang on Thursday (27/8), Deni said that knowledge of road safety is very important, especially for ride-hailing drivers who carry goods and passengers every day. He reminded motorcyclists to rest and not force themselves to ride when drowsy.
“So I really urge my friends, do not force yourself to ride a motorcycle when you are sleepy. Just sleep, sleep for five minutes first. Coffee or anything else does not help, it cannot fight drowsiness. I am the example, I am the victim. I had a single-vehicle accident because of drowsiness,” Deni said while delivering his testimony on the importance of following traffic rules during the Road Safety Festival on Thursday (27/8/2026).
Deni was the victim of a single-vehicle accident while riding in the Tangerang area. He admitted he was initially frustrated because his leg had to be amputated. However, Deni rose again for the sake of his wife and child, becoming a ride-hailing driver and managing to fund his child’s nursing studies.
“At first I was also frustrated when I was about to have the amputation. Alhamdulillah, I have a patient wife who kept supporting me and forced me to get back up, until I finally made it. To all my friends, stay spirited, everyone has their own path, follow the right path and the right rules,” Deni said.
“Do not ride against the traffic. Do not accept it if a passenger asks you to go against the traffic, just refuse! Let us just follow the rules, insyaallah sustenance will not be misplaced. I am the example, we are all ride-hailing drivers, I can send my child to school. Nothing is impossible, ride-hailing drivers can definitely do it. Never complain or regret, follow the riding rules,” he added.
Road Safety Festival
As previously reported, 5,150 ride-hailing drivers from across Greater Jakarta participated in the Road Safety Festival organised by the National Police Traffic Corps. The Head of the National Police Traffic Corps, Inspector General Wibowo, encouraged ride-hailing drivers to become pioneers of road safety.
“The role of ride-hailing drivers today is not only as transport service providers, but also as the front face in creating a culture of orderly traffic,” Inspector General Wibowo said at the Indonesia Safety Driving Centre (ISDC), Serpong, South Tangerang, on Thursday (27/8/2026).
According to him, the role of ride-hailing drivers is now not only limited to being transport service providers, but also as the face of building a culture of orderly traffic within society. He invited all ride-hailing drivers to become examples for other road users, particularly in terms of discipline, riding ethics, and compliance with traffic rules.
“Therefore, I always encourage all fellow ride-hailing drivers to become pioneers of road safety, to become examples in discipline, riding ethics, and compliance with all traffic rules,” he said.