Driving in Jakarta to slow to snail's pace by 2020

Evi Mariani and Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Sixteen years from now, driving in Jakarta will be at a running pace of 10 kilometers per hour (kph) as revealed in a recent study conducted by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The study shows that the current average traveling speed of 14.75 kph will reduce further unless the Jakarta administration takes preventive measures.

There are 2.5 million private cars and 3.8 million motorcycles using the city's 7,500 kilometers of roads. The number keeps on increasing with Jakartans buying at least 300 new cars and 1,200 new motorcycles every day.

The study, however, was slightly relieving because Governor Sutiyoso had warned residents of a possible total gridlock in the capital by 2014.

Currently, there are at least 49 spots of chronic congestion citywide. The most congested spots are located at busy intersections such as in Cawang, East Jakarta, and Tomang, West Jakarta.

"The study also reveals that between 40 percent and 60 percent of the average travel time in Jakarta is wasted at intersections," Jakarta Police traffic division law enforcement unit chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Naufal Yahya said on Thursday.

The consequence of the traffic woes is economic losses that reach Rp 41.05 billion (US$4.41 million) per day.

To overcome such a problem, the City Council has urged the administration to adopt traffic policies to restrain the rapid growth of vehicles.

"Congestion is getting worse although the administration builds more roads," councillor Sahrianta Tarigan of the Golkar Party faction said. The council recommended the adoption of policies similar to those used in Singapore and Malaysia.

Both neighboring countries have imposed restrictions on car ownership through high import duty.

Singapore only allows its residents to own a vehicle under the Vehicle Quota System. To reduce congestion, it also applies an electronic road pricing system, with fees varying according to the time and location.

"Such policies are needed because the Jakarta Transportation Agency does not recognize the ideal number of vehicles that should be allowed in the capital and its surrounding cities," he said.

"Worse still, the agency keeps encouraging transportation companies to expand their fleets, ignoring the road capacity."

Bylaw No. 12/2003 on city transportation stipulates that traffic restraining policies include the three-in-one traffic policy, sticker system, area licensing system, road pricing, higher parking fees in the central business district and progressive tax for vehicle ownership.