'Discipline would help improve traffic'

While many people complain about being packed in like sardines aboard decrepit public transportation vehicles, and face the prospect of even higher fares, executives who drive their comfortable private vehicles also complain about traffic congestion during peak hours. They share their ideas about traffic management in the city with The Jakarta Post.

Muljadi Suriawan, President Director of PT Neonlite, an advertising agency.

Transport management in the city is very bad. How are motorists supposed to put up with endless queues during peak hours on the toll roads, which are supposed to be free of jams? This is just an example.

It's the same all over the city. The queues are getting worse each day.

I realize that it is difficult for the city administration and the government to build new roads but I think they could still widen the existing roads.

There's a road in the Tanah Abang area that is a good example of a road that must be widened as it can no longer accommodate the cars heading from Casablanca, South Jakarta, to Jatibaru, Central Jakarta.

If the road were widened, it would solve the terrible traffic jams in the area, particularly during peak hours.

The three-in-one system (along Jl. Jend. Sudirman and Jl. M.H. Thamrin) also only displaces the congestion from these two main streets to other roads. It's not effective anyway as many drivers prefer to hire people to meet the requirement of having three passengers.

Nuke Mayasaphira, President Director of PT Nindotama Kharisma.

I just hope that the administration will find the best transportation management system to overcome the existing problems.

But before deciding on the system, the administration must count the population of Jakarta and separate roads users based on economic class, namely low, middle and upper income families.

The data will show what means of transportation will be needed by the people in each of those groups.

Gunadi Soekemi, deputy chairman of the Indonesian Outdoor Media Association.

Traffic jams during peak hours are evident every single day on many roads in the city. The congestion is caused by the limited number of roads compared to the continuously increasing number of vehicles.

That's why transportation in Jakarta is very difficult to improve.

Lack of discipline on the part of drivers, passengers and pedestrians is another factor contributing to the problem.

Although it's difficult to handle the problem, I would urge the administration to begin now.

I would also call on the administration to consider the use of a mass transit system (MRT) which could be used by those Jakartans who now drive their own cars to work.

Hendra Prastowo, Director of Jaya Adhimedia.

I have no idea what's wrong with the transportation system here. I only know that one of the main factors is the motorists' lack of discipline. Many drivers, especially public transportation drivers, often ignore the traffic signs.

I think law enforcement must be firmly upheld to improve discipline. Only with discipline can we improve the traffic situation in the city. -- JP