First trial day of new 3-in-1 rule has no effect

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.