Indramayu Police Reiterate Ban on Using Pickup Trucks to Transport Passengers

The Indramayu Resort Police in West Java have reiterated the ban on using pickup trucks or open-bed vehicles to transport passengers, following a tragic accident on the Pantura route in the region that claimed 12 lives.

Head of Community Policing for the Indramayu Police, First Inspector Tasim, stated on Wednesday that goods transport vehicles, whether pickups or trucks, are not intended for carrying people due to the high risk of fatalities in the event of an accident.

"The vehicle structure, which lacks a protective roof and seat belts in the rear, makes passengers extremely vulnerable during severe jolts or a crash. That is why we are re-emphasising this ban on using pickups to carry passengers," he said.

He explained that the prohibition refers to Article 137 of Law Number 22 of 2009 on Road Traffic and Transportation, which stipulates that goods transport vehicles must not be used to carry passengers.

"Therefore, the public is urged not to use open-bed vehicles as a means of transporting people, even if it is considered more practical or can reduce travel costs," he said.

Tasim stressed that the safety of road users must be the priority by using modes of transport appropriate to their intended purpose. He added that the Indramayu Police have instructed all sector police ranks to intensify education regarding the ban on using pickup trucks for passenger transport.