It's not the wheels, but who's behind them!

It's not the wheels, but who's behind them!

JAKARTA (JP): Getting from point A to point B in a big city
like Jakarta can be a real pain. Traffic jams are everywhere
during rush hours and there are many hellish drivers who would
not think twice of running you off the road.

The powers that be have failed to think of an effective
solution to ease the traffic congestion even though the problem
has existed for many years.

In fact, it is getting worse and worse as the traffic
infrastructure is woefully inadequate -- many roads are damaged,
the construction of new roads has been halted due to the crisis
but the number of vehicles is increasing.

At least there is one way to relieve the pain. You could
always hire a good-looking driver: a beautiful sexy woman like
Pamela Anderson or a handsome man, who is also sexy, like Tom
Cruise.

A car can make your life easier, providing it does not break
down, especially if you are driving alone at night. Not only does
it protect you from the scorching sun and takes you to whenever
you want to go, a car -- not virtue or merit -- can also bring
you respects and honors.

Parking attendants and security guards know this well. If you
drive a BMW, Mercedes-Benz or another expensive car, it is easier
for you to find a parking space. When you park the car, they
enthusiastically give you directions (they are probably expecting
big tips as they assume you are rich and generous, even though
many of the haves are stingy).

You are what you drive -- is that true? Or, the better your
car, the greater people's expectations of you? Well, it is true
that a car is very important here in Jakarta because public
transportation is lousy.

There are people who really understand the importance of a car
so that they give one to every member of their family. It's not
surprising if there are five or more cars in some households
(imagine how big the house is?!). There are also some who have
different cars for different purposes. A BMW to go to the office,
an Audi to go shopping, a Land Cruiser to go to the golf course
and a Blazer to pick up the kids from school. Others like to
regularly change their cars with new models to keep up with
changing trends.

In some cases, the common question, "How did you come here
today?" must be replaced with, "Which car did you drive today?"

A daughter of a tycoon who was politically well-connected
reportedly has a fleet of cars of different colors which she
color coordinates with her outfits. She will drive the red one if
she wears a red dress, and the blue one if she is in a blue
outfit. You might wonder what will happen if the tycoon turns out
to be "black" (oops, that word is becoming a no-no) and business
takes a tumble. Would it be a case of no car, no dress for her?

There are lots of new model cars on Jakarta roads today. Some
are small, some are big. Some are assembled here, some are
imported. All are great to look at, so how could you resist the
temptation of buying such a car? If you don't have the cash,
don't worry, you can still get one. The down payment is small and
the interest rate is low, according to the dealer.

"If you buy it in installments, when you start the engine, it
will wail 'debt ... debt ... debt'" joked a friend who took a car
loan from her office.

No wonder the waiting list for several model cars is long.

A huge car expo is being held here, featuring expensive,
built-up cars from different makers. Take the 4,000 cc Jaguar,
for example. This great car can race along the highway at up to
240 km per hour. So, no matter how far your office is, the car
will get you there in no time at all, right? Wrong.

"Where can you drive such a car? Here the maximum speed is
only 40 kilometers per hour," a man said, shaking his head as he
looked at the information brochure. Despite its fabulous engine,
it will crawl along crowded streets, or stop dead in a traffic
jam. In reality, it may run slower than the bajaj (three-wheeled
motorized pedicab).

How about sports cars with folding sunroofs? Vehicles which we
once only knew from photographs and movies are now offered here
for up to Rp 2 billion. You might imagine yourself as James Bond
or Tom Cruise driving such a car, but not in Beverly Hills or
Palm Beach, but in the Blok M area or the Hotel Indonesia traffic
circle.

Think twice about how hot it will be under the baking sun and
the noise as you are squeezed among the convoy of cars, buses and
other vehicles. When you slow down a bit to wipe away the sweat,
all of a sudden a speeding Metromini is bound to pass you and
leave a trail of choking black smoke in its wake.

It's true that public transportation drivers are often blamed
for the reckless way they drive, and yet there are also many
drivers of private cars who suddenly turn left or right, or stop
without giving a signal. Some refuse to queue, changing lanes and
overtaking other vehicles at will. Or there are those who honk if
you drive too slowly for their liking, or if you dare to slow
down when the traffic light turns from green to yellow.

And how often do you see a driver or a passenger of a private
car -- luxury or "ordinary" -- who chucks litters out of the
window? Or, worse, has no second thoughts about spitting from the
vehicle.

You are not what you drive, but you are how you drive.

-- T. Sima Gunawan