Matters to anticipate when travelling home for Eid using a private vehicle

Jakarta — A road safety expert from Jakarta Defensive Driving Consulting (JDDC), Jusri Pulubuhu, has outlined several matters that residents intending to travel home for Eid using private vehicles should anticipate.

“There are three characteristics of the mudik journey in Indonesia, such as time, fatigue and excessive baggage,” he stated during a media gathering with Jetour in Jakarta on Tuesday (10 March).

He explained that journeys returning to one’s hometown using both two-wheeled and four-wheeled vehicles ahead of Eid typically require significantly longer than usual.

“The mudik journey from Jakarta to Central or East Java takes considerably longer. For example, a trip to Semarang would normally take 6-7 hours on regular days, but during the Eid mudik period this can extend to over 12 hours,” he explained.

The longer journey will be fatiguing for both drivers and passengers, particularly those who are fasting.

“Exhaustion becomes a travelling companion. Because the journey is quite long, this issue arises, and drivers must not overlook it,” said Jusri.

To maintain health and fitness during mudik, private vehicle users are advised to prepare their physical condition before travelling and to arrange rest periods during the journey.

Jusri recommended that travellers ensure their baggage does not exceed their vehicle’s carrying capacity.

“The habit of bringing excessive baggage during mudik causes negative effects on the vehicle. Overloading can cause the car to deteriorate quickly and also increase fuel consumption,” he stated.

The Ministry of Transport estimates that 143.9 million people will travel during the 2026 Eid exodus. The National Police predict that Eid mudik traffic will peak on 14-15 March and 18-19 March.