Number of reckless drivers drop: Police
JAKARTA (JP): The number of reckless public transportation drivers rounded up since the end of September is dramatically lower than in preceding months, a senior officer said yesterday.
Arrests made between Sept. 23 and Nov. 2 totaled 11,189 (in 40 days) compared to 20,741 (in 28 days) between Aug. 25 and Sept. 22.
The city traffic police chief, Col. Syafruddin Bakar, said most of the people apprehended had violated traffic regulations.
He said the number of motorists (including public transportation drivers) arrested for violations decreased slightly to 43,405 in the September/November period from 43,564 in August/September.
"The decrease is attributed to a crackdown on reckless drivers, especially public transportation drivers, by our officers."
Bakar said people had apparently paid more attention to traffic regulations to avoid getting caught by police for violating the rules.
A drop in the number or traffic violations usually preceded a fall in the number of traffic accidents.
Bakar said that the number of people killed in traffic accidents last month decreased by 15 percent. He declined to provide further information.
"An average of two to three people died every day in traffic accidents in Greater Jakarta just during September."
He said police needed the public's cooperation to reduce both the number of traffic violations and accidents.
People are expected to help police by at least reporting any violations or accidents they see on the streets, he said.
His office planned to install a "hit-and-run box" at some 20 accident-prone areas, he said.
"People are expected to put their reports on traffic violations into the boxes. We'll pick the messages up every morning," he said, without specifying the areas where the boxes are to be placed.
Hopefully the officers will be able to apprehend some people who try to flee after violating traffic regulations, he said.
The latest police data shows that out of the 43,405 motorists arrested, private vehicle drivers accounted for 20,741 of the total and the remaining 11,189 were public transportation drivers.
Of the private motorists, some 8,222 were rounded up during the last seven days of the survey period -- between Oct. 27 and Nov. 2.
Police data also reveals that the 8,222 violators included 2,631 high school students, 2,411 junior high school students and 1,617 primary school students.
Bakar said that his office would ensure that alleged traffic violators faced court. At least 6,463 of the suspects have been tried at various district courts in Greater Jakarta.
Most of the motorists -- 4,284 people -- were fined for ignoring traffic signs on the streets, 1,603 had used their vehicles inappropriately and 1,045 did not have adequate documents. (cst)