Long-Distance Buses Must Meet Safety Standards, Non-Standard Accessories Under Scrutiny

JAKARTA — The Ministry of Transportation has reiterated the importance of ensuring operational safety standards for bus fleets used to transport passengers.

All public transport vehicles must meet safety standards, including technical vehicle specifications. According to a Ministry official encountered in Jakarta, transport operators are obligated to ensure that each bus unit used to provide services—whether for inter-provincial, inter-city or provincial services, tourism transport, or other public transport—meets operational requirements.

These operational requirements encompass not only vehicle documentation but also the overall technical condition of the fleet. The requirements are designed solely to guarantee vehicle safety from administrative, technical, and roadworthiness perspectives.

Non-standard accessories pose potential dangers to other road users. Examples include horns with excessively loud sounds or additional lights that dazzle drivers from the opposite direction.

The government therefore conducts oversight through various vehicle inspections before buses are deployed to serve passengers during the holiday travel period. If there are violations of operational safety standards, operators face potential sanctions including warnings, suspension, or even licence revocation.

However, if an incident or accident occurs that is proven to be caused by a vehicle’s failure to meet safety standards, the government will pursue appropriate legal action in accordance with applicable regulations.