'I often violate the 3-in-1 traffic rule'
'I often violate the 3-in-1 traffic rule'
The city administration is considering expanding the three-in-one
traffic policy for motorists later this year with the launching
of the busway project. Currently, vehicles with less than three
passengers are not allowed to pass the main thoroughfares of Jl.
Jend. Sudirman and Jl. MH Thamrin between certain hours. But
there are frequent violations, as told to The Jakarta Post.
Arleta, 33, is an executive of an English language school on
Jl. Jendral Sudirman, South Jakarta. She resides in Tebet, South
Jakarta with her family:
I am sure that the three-in-one traffic regulation will not
help much to alleviate the traffic problems in Jakarta. It only
worked well when it was first implemented.
In a way the rule will provide an income for the joki (people
who are hired by motorists to pose as passengers for a small
tip).
But I guess hiring people from the street encourages crime.
Frankly, I would never hire a joki because my privacy and
safety are important considerations. I always drive alone or with
my driver even in the restricted zone.
I realize the consequences. Many times I have been caught by
the police for violating the rule. However, I prefer to settle
the problem with the police with let's say, Rp 10,000.
Many car owners choose to drive their own cars because they
don't feel comfortable or safe using public transportation.
To make the regulation effective, I think the government
should improve public transportation first before imposing the
three-in-one rule. Otherwise, it would be better for the city
administration to revoke the rule as it is useless.
Budi Hartono, 32, is an employee in a private company in Blok
M, South Jakarta. He lives in Kalimalang, East Jakarta, with his
wife and two children:
I think the rule is not applicable at all. It does not solve
the real problem but instead it creates new problems.
The traffic in the city remains congested. How can we say that
it is effective, then?
If the main objective is to alleviate traffic congestion, it
has definitely failed due the poor implementation and awareness
of motorists.
I think the policy will not work, unless there are other
supportive policies. For instance, the city government must
improve public transportation. Otherwise, people will prefer to
use their own vehicles rather than public transportation.
Perhaps, the mass rapid transportation system will help solve
the traffic problem. That would be a more realistic solution
rather than the irrational policies imposed by the city
administration.
Apart from the issues of security and comfort, I personally
prefer to use my own car as it helps me to save on transportation
costs. Public transportation now is much more expensive and worse
still, it wastes a lot of time to get to work.
Dewi PS, 21, is a first year student of the London School of
Public Relations on Jl. Jend. Sudirman, South Jakarta. She lives
in Karet, South Jakarta:
I don't see any benefit in the three-in-one policy. Nobody, I
mean the car owners, complies with the regulation.
It is so ironic. There are many slums in the city but there
are also rich people who clog the streets with their posh cars.
They own many cars even though one car would be sufficient for a
family.
I think the rule is ineffective, while to some extent it
creates new jobs for the low income earners who are hired to pose
as passengers in the car.
However, in my opinion, such a practice encourages crime since
most of the joki are uneducated and lead a hand-to-mouth
existence.
The regulation will be ineffective unless there are supportive
policies. I'm quite sure that many people are unaware of the
benefit of three-in-one regulation here.
It is the city administration's responsibility to promote the
policy in a bid to raise public awareness about the benefits of
the regulation.
Well-off families in the city should realize the impact of
severe traffic congestion. It would be better to reduce the use
of private cars so as to alleviate traffic problems.
-- Leo Wahyudi S