Fatal Crash in Indramayu: Firm Action Needed Against Pickups Carrying Passengers

Wakil Ketua Komisi V DPR RI from the PKB faction, Syaiful Huda, has highlighted the fatal accident on the Pantura route in Indramayu Regency, West Java, on Sunday (12/7). The collision between an open-bed vehicle, or pickup, and a tronton lorry killed 13 people. The pickup, which was carrying over a dozen passengers, was attempting a U-turn at the Kiajaran Kulon junction in Indramayu after returning from a wedding. At the same time, the tronton lorry was travelling from the same direction, making the collision unavoidable.

Syaiful urged the government to take firm action against the misuse of goods transport vehicles for carrying passengers. "We all understand that pickup trucks are designed to carry goods, not people. When a goods vehicle is used to transport passengers, the risk is very high. If an accident occurs, the potential for fatalities is far greater because the vehicle is simply not designed to protect passengers," Syaiful stressed in a statement in Jakarta on Monday (13/7).

Huda emphasised that using open-bed vehicles to transport people is a dangerous practice that violates transport safety standards, as they are not equipped with seat belts or impact protection. Ironically, Huda noted, this practice of using pickup trucks has become commonplace in society. "For the sake of cheapness, our society often neglects safety, which comes at an extraordinarily high price. This situation must be a concern for all of us," he said.

The Chairman of the PKB DPP called on the Ministry of Transportation not merely to issue appeals but to strengthen field supervision and intensify public safety education campaigns. He argued that collective awareness must be built so that people no longer risk their lives by riding in vehicles not intended for that purpose. "The public needs to be given an understanding that using goods transport vehicles to carry passengers is an extremely dangerous practice. Collective awareness must be built so that safety becomes a shared priority," said the legislator from West Java.

In addition to highlighting the educational aspect, Huda urged the police to conduct a thorough investigation to unravel the root causes of the accident. The investigation, he said, must cover all variables, from the roadworthiness of the vehicles and their speed at the time of the incident to the suitability of the road infrastructure around the U-turn location. "The investigation must be carried out comprehensively. Everything must be disclosed transparently so that it serves as a lesson to prevent similar tragedies in the future," Huda concluded.