Driving in Jakarta streets

Driving in Jakarta streets

I'd like to respond to the letter entitled Never ending story by Christian Wilhelmi in The Jakarta Post, Jan. 19, 1995.

I felt extremely sorry reading about your experience of the unsuccessful chase of the President taxi driver. What the heck, let it go! From your name I could not guess where you come from, but it seems to me that you come from a well-organized, developed country where you can possibly chase and catch other cars. Jakarta is, however, a different place. Please note, there are about eight million people crammed in this city.

I cannot stop myself from telling you that you were wasting your energy for doing what you did (or didn't) to this taxi driver. What would you be doing if you had got him? He could have taken you to a place where many drivers usually gather. What can you do about it? In this sort of problem, unless you have a good knowledge of the local system, and even if you take the matter to the police, you will get nowhere. It will only add to your trouble.

I agree that the police are helpful and supportive but this is simply because you are a foreigner. There is no guarantee that they are even willing to sacrifice their time to solve an individual complaint like yours in a timely manner, because it is almost routine for them to receive hundreds of tiring complaints every day.

I can imagine your zero mood and how discouraged you were that day. I would suggest for the future that you think twice before deciding to involve yourself in such a daring game. With all the anger, sadness, madness as well as happiness, I have been driving for 18 years on Jakarta's congested and polluted streets. Many people would agree with me that "there is no car without a few scratches in Jakarta." Just be careful when taking to the streets.

FRANCISCA INDARSIANI

Jakarta