'Ministers can afford to take the toll road'

According to the law, road users must give priority to -- in order of urgency -- fire trucks, ambulances, traffic patrol vehicles, vehicles of the head of state or state visitors, hearses, convoys or parades, vehicles of people with disabilities, and vehicles designed to transport specific loads, such as money or chemical substance. Many people think that this system only adds to traffic problems in the capital. The Jakarta Post talked to some residents about the issue.

Fadli, 23, is a webmaster. He lives in a rented house in Setiabudi, South Jakarta:

I think only the president and the vice president should be entitled to such privileges. But not the ministers and other state officials, who are just aides to the head of state.

If they want to reach their office faster they can take the toll road. They can obviously afford the fare.

Indra, 30, is a sales executive of a trading company in Blok M, South Jakarta. He lives in Kemanggisan, West Jakarta:

If there are any vehicles that deserve privileges on the street and are exempt from traffic regulations, then I believe that they are ambulances and fire trucks in cases of emergency, or police cars in pursuit of criminals.

Apart from that, I don't think anyone should get special treatment, including state officials.

The problem is that it is difficult to determine whether the state officials are on their way to an official occasion, or otherwise. So why should they be given priority on the streets?

Concerning funeral processions, no offense, but it is commonly said that these cars shouldn't be in so much of a hurry as the person is already dead.

And then, there is the annoying problem of motorists who take advantage of this system by tailing prioritized vehicles, this only encourages other motorists to copy them.

-- The Jakarta Post