Idul Fitri exodus leads to traffic congestion

The Jakarta Post, Cirebon/Semarang

Three days before the Idul Fitri holiday traffic along Java's main north-coast highway was moving at a snail's space, with a trip from Jakarta to the West Java town of Cirebon, normally a four-hour trip, taking 14 hours.

Heavy traffic was seen just outside the Cikampek toll road, as well as along the Sukamandi-Pamanukan, Subang and Sukra-Losarang roads in Indramayu regency.

One holiday traveler, Warhedi, 40, told The Jakarta Post on Monday he left Jakarta for his hometown in Kuningan regency at 2 a.m. and only reached his destination at 4 p.m.

"Traffic started just after the Cikampek tollgate and lasted all the way to Cirebon. The traffic moved at a snail's pace and there were times when we were completely stopped for long periods due to the congestion, like at the market in Patrol, in Losarang and at the Tegal Gubug market in Arjawinangun regency," said Warhedi, who traveled by private car.

The roads were also filled with holidaymakers traveling by motorcycle, with these people often traveling in packs.

According to Indra, a resident of Banyumas in Central Java, the motorcyclists traveled in groups to ensure their safety. "If one motorcycle breaks down or has some other problem, they can help each other."

Tehre have been a number of fatal accidents as millions of people move across the country to get home for Idul Fitri.

Along the north-coast highway, two people died in two separate accidents on Monday, one in Loh Bener district in Indramayu regency and the other in Kapetakan district in Cirebon regency. Six people died on the highway on Sunday in an accident involving three vehicles in Majalengka regency.

In Semarang, the head of the Central Java Traffic Police, Sr. Comr. Bambang Purwanto, said on Monday that so far seven people had died in separate traffic accidents in the province.

He said the number of accidents was still low compared to last year, when 14 accidents took place in the province in the first week of the exodus, killing four people.

The Central Java Police recorded a total of 29 accidents killing 27 people and injuring 42 people during last year's Idul Fitri season.