Motorcyclists Without Helmets: Roads Are Empty During Eid, It's Safe Enough

JAKARTA — Dozens of motorcyclists in South Jakarta were observed not wearing helmets while passing through several road sections during the Eid holiday. Kompas.com monitoring on Jalan TB Simatupang and its surroundings showed that many riders still failed to comply with traffic safety rules. Meanwhile, from the direction of Pancoran towards Pasar Minggu, the number reached around 25 riders. One rider, Rahma (29), admitted to deliberately not wearing a helmet due to the relatively empty road conditions during the Eid holiday. In addition to not wearing helmets, several riders were also seen carrying passengers exceeding capacity. In one case, a single motorcycle was carrying up to four to five people, including children. Although traffic flow was relatively light, the situation remained highly risky for road users’ safety. Even at several traffic light intersections, similar violations were found despite police officers on duty, with no reprimands issued. Another rider, Dito (34), admitted to not putting helmets on his passengers because the distance was short and the number of helmets was limited. “This is just nearby, going to a relative’s house. Helmets are limited, so only the driver wears one,” he said. However, wearing helmets for motorcyclists and their passengers is mandatory under the Road Traffic and Transportation Law. Such violations also increase the risk of fatalities in accidents, besides the risk of electronic ticketing or Electronic Traffic Law Enforcement (ETLE). Kompas.com has contacted the Director of Traffic of Metro Jaya Police, Senior Commissioner Pol Komarudin, for comment on the prevalence of helmet non-use and excess passengers during the Eid holiday. However, Komarudin has not yet responded.