'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