DKI Transportation Agency: Vehicles Must Stop Completely When Pelican Crossing Light is Green
The DKI Jakarta Provincial Transportation Agency (Dishub) has stressed that pedestrians are road users who must be prioritised when the light at a pedestrian crossing facility equipped with traffic lights (pelican crossing) turns green. In this situation, all two-wheeled and four-wheeled motorists are required to stop their vehicles precisely behind the stop line until all crossing activity is completely finished.
"When the crossing light is green, vehicles must stop and give priority to pedestrians who are crossing," said Head of the DKI Jakarta Transportation Agency, Budi Awaluddin, in an official statement received in Jakarta on Saturday (25/7). The firm statement was issued in response to widespread public discussion triggered by a viral video of an incident where a motorist recklessly ran the crossing light at the Bundaran HI pelican crossing area in Central Jakarta on Thursday (23/7).
As a crucial traffic safety infrastructure, the pelican crossing is specifically designed to minimise the risk of accidents on the road. Therefore, compliance with the Traffic Signal Equipment (APILL) is an absolute obligation for all road user elements. Technically, the operational mechanism of this facility is driven by an automatic controller system. The procedure requires pedestrians to first press the available crossing button and wait momentarily until the signal light turns green. When the crossing signal is activated, the indicator light for the vehicle flow automatically turns red, forcing motorists to stop until pedestrians cross safely.
Budi further explained that the pelican crossing point in the Bundaran HI area has a very high level of mobility. Its location is highly strategic because it is directly integrated with the Bundaran HI MRT Station, Transjakarta bus stops, and the central business district, including offices, hotels, and commercial shopping centres. Regarding timing, the DKI Transportation Agency has calibrated the light cycle according to local traffic dynamics. At certain hours, the waiting interval is set between 40 to 50 seconds, while the allocated crossing time is set at 20 seconds.
The determination of this duration is not arbitrary but is guided by the Decree of the Director General of Land Transportation Number 43 of 1997. The careful calculation takes into account various important variables, including the average walking speed of pedestrians, the width of the road to be crossed, the density of pedestrian volume per cycle, and the effective width of the zebra cross markings. The timing formula has also been designed to be friendly to vulnerable groups, including the elderly, persons with disabilities, children, and pedestrians carrying heavy loads.
Despite being standardised, the DKI Transportation Agency is committed to continuously monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of the pelican crossing duration. Adjustments will be made immediately if there is a surge in pedestrian volume or changes in local traffic flow dynamics. "The pelican crossing duration is not fixed. Evaluations can be carried out periodically by observing needs on the ground, especially during peak hours," Budi stated.