Fate of taxi driver

Fate of taxi driver

One day, when my wife and I went by taxi to the hospital, the taxi driver expressed his pent-up feelings about the recent strict traffic regulations, with the related severe penalties. In a voice which portrayed his frustration and dismay, he told me how hard it was to live in a metropolitan city like Jakarta.

One day, he violated a traffic regulation and he had to pay Rp 150,000, while what he pays daily to the taxi owner is more or less the same amount, so there isn't much left for his wife and three kids, he related sadly.

I was touched by his story and I searched for some comforting words to express my sympathy. What galls me is that taxis are not allowed to pick up passengers on Jakarta's busy main streets such as Jl. Thamrin and Jl. Sudirman, so both the taxis and the potential passengers suffer from that regulation.

Although I sympathized with the taxi drivers' harsh fate, I thought that the enforcement of traffic discipline is still a necessity, because many drivers are completely ignorant of road- discipline, resulting in countless traffic accidents with fatal results. I did not say it in so many words though, taking care not to offend my driver.

He closed his story by adding pensively: If this goes on, I am seriously thinking of going back to my ancestors' village and earn my living as a farmer or by tilling the soil.

A. DJUANA

Jakarta