Idul Fitri travellers risk traffic hazards

Idul Fitri travellers risk traffic hazards

Yuli Tri Suwarni and ID Nugroho, The Jakarta Post, Bandung/Surabaya

The Idul Fitri holiday in which millions of people will return to
their hometowns in West Java and East Java this year, may be
overshadowed by traffic congestion, accidents and natural
disasters, especially landslides, warn police and local
government officials.

Governments in both provinces have made the necessary
preparations to ensure a smooth journey home for travellers.

In East Java province, the provincial police and the
transportation office here are on high alert in areas prone to
vehicular accidents and landslides.

The accident-prone areas, according to the authorities, are
located along the north coast highway and the southern part of
Java, particularly in Bangil, Pasuruan, Situbondo, Banyuwangi,
Caruban, Madiun, Ngawi and Magetan.

The minister of transportation has even discouraged people
from traveling in private cars on the north coast highway.

The precaution is necessary as drivers are inclined to speed
along the lengthy and winding stretch of highway. "Integrated
posts will manned by the police, transportation office, the Jasa
Raharja state insurance company and several organizations
concerned with the safety of travelers, to oversee the areas,"
deputy head of the East Java Transportation Office, Hari Sugiri,
told The Jakarta Post recently.

Some 7.3 million people are expected to return home during
Idul Fitri from various cities nationwide, especially Jakarta.
There are 35 million people living in East Java.

Personnel manning the posts located in 38 regencies and
mayoralties in East Java will inform road users about conditions
on the roads. The police will also give more attention to
travelers using motorcycles, as their numbers will probably rise
drastically.

Another possible hazard is landslides. The transportation
office has identified 15 danger points in East Java, due to the
fact that there may be heavy rain during Idul Fitri. Among the
areas prone to landslides are Babat, Bojonegoro, Caruban, Madiun,
Ponorogo, Pacitan, Jember and Banyuwangi regencies.

In West Java province, the provincial government is preparing
to face horrendous traffic congestion in the area, as millions of
people are expected to travel through various roads in the
province. More than three million travelers are estimated to be
traveling throughout West Java overland, 1.3 million of them
originating from cities in West Java alone.

The Ministry of Transportation has estimated that some 17
million people will be leaving for their hometowns from various
places nationwide, mostly to the three provinces on Java island:
West Java, Central Java and East Java.

In order to help tackle the imminent traffic congestion, the
West Java Transportation Office will install closed circuit
television systems in six points prone to traffic congestion in
the area to inform personnel and road users of conditions on the
roads.

Head of the West Java Transportation Office, Endang Sobirin,
said the six areas where the system would be installed were
Padalarang, Cileunyi, Nagrek, Kadipaten, Patrol and Palimanan.

The system, funded by the central government with assistance
from the local Telkom office, will assist traffic police and the
West Java Land Transportation Agency personnel in efforts to ease
congestion and in rerouting traffic to alternative roads.