First trial day of new 3-in-1 rule has no effect
Tony Hotland, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The first trial day of the extended three-in-one traffic policy on Wednesday was marked with unresponsive drivers and lax traffic police.
Many cars were seen taking advantage of the otherwise empty busway corridor during the restricted times and policemen did not bother to inform the drivers of the new policy -- and some were uninformed of the new regulation.
"I don't know if the three-in-one policy is also imposed in the afternoon. Who told you? I haven't heard about it," said a police officer at the Hotel Indonesia roundabout, Central Jakarta.
Another officer at the roundabout said the trial period was intended to give the public time to become familiar with the policy, so no legal actions would be taken during this period.
"Well, it's just a trial. We'll start taking action next month, when the trial period ends. I don't need to stop the drivers just to tell them that the three-in-one has been extended. I'm sure they already know from the newspapers or TV," he said.
Governor Sutiyoso announced on Tuesday the extension of the three-in-one traffic regulation in a bid to support the much- vaunted busway project.
The extended three-in-one policy will be in place from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., and will be imposed along a greater stretch of road -- along the busway corridor starting from Blok M, South Jakarta, to Kota, West Jakarta.
Several policemen stationed at the intersection of Jl. Thamrin and Jl. Kebon Sirih, Central Jakarta, also said they had not been given any order to inform the drivers of the new policy, let alone issue tickets to erring drivers.
"I know about the new policy, but my superior only said there would be no ticketing for 30 days," said an officer.
When asked about informational brochures on the new regulation, the same officer replied, "What brochures? I don't know. We weren't told to provide any information on the new policy to drivers."
Jakarta Police traffic chief Sr. Comr. Sulistyo Ishak had announced earlier that police would help the public to adjust to the new policy by distributing brochures.
He also said police would only direct those drivers violating the policy during the trial period if the traffic along the busway corridor became severely congested.
Traffic on the city's thoroughfares was quiet on Wednesday afternoon as many citizens prepared for Christmas Eve.
Soeripto, 45, a self-driver who was aware of the extended three-in-one, opted to take an alternative road to his workplace in Blok M.
"It seems many motorists also took the same alternative road and caused congestion in the area. The traffic made me late for work," he said.
Another motorist, Linda, 30, called on the city administration to give more time to the public to get used to the new policy.
"I suspect the governor has imposed the trial period during the extended Christmas holiday so that the public won't protest so much," said the resident of Rawamangun, East Jakarta, as quoted by Antara.
Many motorists have objected the administration's plan to extend the three-in-one policy, saying that it would not help traffic congestion -- much as the old policy did not.
The prevailing criticism is that the policy would only shift the congestion to other streets, particularly back streets, feeder roads and other alternative roads, and produce more joki, offering their services as "dummy" passengers for a small fee.