Drug, alcohol tests for intercity bus drivers

JAKARTA (JP): All intercity bus drivers working during the festive season will have to undergo a series of tests before getting behind the wheel in a bid to prevent reckless driving, the City Land Transportation Agency announced yesterday.

The head of the agency's violation and supervision subdivision, Oriyanto, said that testing will start today at the city's four major bus terminals.

"The tests will be the first ever held in Jakarta."

He said a team of doctors will conduct the checkups, which include urine tests and an external physical examination.

"One of the main purposes of the tests is to make sure the drivers are not under the influence of drugs or alcohol."

Oriyanto said the agency decided to conduct tests after a significant increase in traffic accidents in recent years due to drunken and reckless driving.

"Most of the accidents happened because the drivers were sleepy, drunk or under the influence of drugs."

Police data revealed that accidents nationwide had claimed 6,295 lives and injured 12,112 people in the first nine months of this year, compared to 5,634 fatalities and 10,529 injured people in the same period last year.

Oriyanto said that 8,500 drivers had been assigned to transport an estimated 1.26 million travelers during Christmas, the Ramadhan fasting month and Idul Fitri holidays.

The agency has set aside 7,801 buses to accommodate the annual exodus of people who plan to spend the festive season in their hometowns in Java and Sumatra.

He said testing would be conducted at the city's four intercity bus terminals: Kampung Rambutan and Pulo Gebang in East Jakarta, Lebak Bulus in South Jakarta and Kalideres in West Jakarta.

The agency will also perform roadworthy tests for vehicles at the terminals and certain posts along intercity routes.

"If a bus is going on a long trip, there must be a mechanical checkup so we can make sure the vehicle is safe."

As part of the crackdown on reckless drivers, the agency and the City Public Order Office have conducted joint operations since last month to prevent the sale of liquor in kiosks operating in and around the bus terminals.

"I tell you it's difficult to crack down on drivers' drinking habits. Usually, after a long trip, they want to relax by having a drink. This kind of behavior must be stopped," Toha Reno, a public order official, said.

Toha, who heads the office's public order and entertainment subdivision, said there was a need for a standby driver, who could take over the wheel if the main driver became fatigued.

"Judging from the (Idul Fitri) exodus earlier this year, many drivers were worn out because they had to go back and forth from one destination to another.

"Because of that, unauthorized drivers often showed up along the route and took over the wheel. This is very dangerous. Who would be responsible if there was an accident?"

In response to the unauthorized driver problem, Oriyanto said his agency would order intercity bus companies to issue a driver recommendation letter for its employees.

"The letter will at least be used as an identification tag to prove that (the driver) is not an illegal driver."

"We may be able to control the drivers in terminals, but once they're outside it's very difficult to do so. That is why officers of related agencies should check thoroughly." (edt)