Drivers: Beware!

Drivers: Beware!

Violators of traffic regulations on Jakarta's main streets
like Jl. Sudirman, and Jl. Thamrin shall be fined Rp 1 million to
Rp 6 million. This headline in the local daily Kompas of Sept.
28, 1994 edition becomes the topic of the day, in most offices.

The reactions of my colleagues vary, but all unanimously agree
that the penalty is too high. However, everybody agrees that the
sense of discipline of drivers in general leaves much to be
desired. Or is it perhaps due to the chronic traffic jams that
turn drivers into morose and bad tempered people?

In this instance, a heavy penalty has its plus and minus. On
the one hand, it compels drivers to adhere to the traffic
regulations, but on the other hand, a fine of one to six million
rupiah is a huge amount for a driver.

Apart from all this, there is one question that bothers and
becomes an obsession with me, namely: suppose a company's driver
unconsciously violates a traffic regulation (to err is human) and
he is fined six million. I am quite sure that the company would
refuse to pay the penalty. So in such a case, if the driver has
his meager salary deducted every month to pay the penalty, what
about his wife and children? How to cover the household expenses?

A. DJUANA

Jakarta