Greater Jakarta needs more traffic signs and lights
Greater Jakarta needs more traffic signs and lights
JAKARTA (JP): The Greater Jakarta area badly needs additional
traffic signs, along with traffic lights and bus stops along
major roads.
The shortage of traffic signs along major streets prevents
police from enforcing the law as fully as possible, City Police
spokesman Lt. Col. Bambang Haryoko told reporters Saturday.
Last month, the government launched a traffic campaign along
selected roads in Jakarta and other major cities throughout the
country.
Traffic violators ticketed in these areas are asked to pay
fines in court themselves. They are no longer allowed to send
representatives to court.
Bambang said that the police are catching an increasing number
of violators in the targeted areas as the operation progresses,
but lamented the lack of traffic signs. He said the signs and
other facilities would assist officers greatly in enforcing the
law.
"However, it's not the task of the police force to provide
these facilities," he said. The installation of traffic signs and
other facilities is under the supervision of the Municipal Land
Transportation Control Agency and the Jakarta Public Works
Office.
"Some bus stops and traffic lights on the selected roads, for
example, are damaged, or out of order, and have yet to be
repaired," Bambang complained.
Despite the shortage, Bambang said, "We have to continue
disciplining the traffic violators in a bid to create proper
traffic flow in the Greater Jakarta area, which includes
Tangerang, Bekasi and Bogor.
This is in line with President Soeharto's instruction to
create orderly traffic flow ahead of the 50th anniversary of
Indonesia's independence day this year, the spokesman added.
Ticketed
Bambang said a total of 8,175 violators have been ticketed in
the special traffic areas during the operation introduced on Jan.
3.
"Of the number, 1,980 violators were accused of causing
traffic jams, most of them by parking indiscriminately," he said.
"A total of 944 others were ticketed for causing traffic
accidents by passing other vehicles in the wrong lane, or
stopping their cars in prohibited areas," he said.
Only 251 violators were ticketed for lacking proper documents,
Bambang said.
Out of the 8,175 violators, a total of 5,167 cases have been
processed by the local prosecutors' offices, which have collected
over Rp 136 million (US$61,500) in fines.
The fines are set at between Rp 10,000 and Rp 300,000 per
violator by the prosecutors, depending on the type of violations,
Bambang said.
"Only seven of the 5,167 violators, who have been processed,
were found innocent," he said, adding that police officers who
ticketed motorists erroneously will get further training.
During the operation, which involves officers from the
Municipal Land Transportation Control Agency, the municipality
office and military personnel, the city police recorded 11
traffic accidents in the special areas. One person died and 10
were injured in the accidents.
In order to achieve more favorable traffic conditions in the
city, the Jakarta police force is allowing middle ranking police
officers to ticket any traffic violators they find in the special
traffic areas, Bambang said.
"If the public finds any officers abusing their power, just
remember their names, ranks and the time and place of the
incident. Don't hesitate to report them to their supervisor, or
directly to the City Police Chief, through Post Office Box 777,
or to the Vice President through Post Office Box 5000," the
spokesman said. (bsr)