Do Not Enter Contraflow During Lebaran Holiday Travel If You Are Not Prepared

Jakarta — During the Lebaran holiday season, police frequently implement various traffic management measures to reduce congestion on toll roads, including contraflow systems.

This traffic engineering measure is typically applied on toll roads with multiple lanes, particularly when vehicle flow in one direction significantly exceeds traffic in the opposite direction.

“It is important to remember that when entering a contraflow lane, do not become trapped within it. In other words, if you are not prepared, it is best not to enter contraflow,” said Jusri to Kompas.com on Friday, 5 March 2026.

“If you are truly unprepared, do not use the rightmost lane. Use the second or first lane if the road has three lanes. This is because as vehicles approach the flow-splitting point, those in the third lane are typically directed into the contraflow lane,” he explained.

Jusri noted that some drivers do not wish to enter contraflow but become trapped because they are positioned in the right lane and are forced to enter the “opposite-direction lane.”

“For this reason, once you enter contraflow, you must be truly prepared. To rejoin normal traffic flow, the distance can be quite substantial. Contraflow lanes can exceed 10 kilometres in length,” said Jusri.

Jusri warned that despite the contraflow system’s purpose of reducing congestion, it does not guarantee that contraflow lanes remain completely free of traffic.

“If traffic flows smoothly, there may be no problem, but if congestion occurs, it can become quite dangerous. Drivers have no place to stop,” said Jusri.

For this reason, drivers should seek information regarding the locations and schedules of contraflow implementations on toll roads so they can select the appropriate lane and prepare themselves before entering such lanes.

Additionally, drivers are advised to maintain safe speeds, keep safe distances from other vehicles, and remain focused while driving to ensure that their holiday journey remains safe and comfortable.