Ojol Community on Traffic Police Approach: From Tickets to Hearts

Semarang, VIVA – The Head of the Indonesian National Police Traffic Corps, Inspector General Agus Suryonugroho, held a Friendship Forum with representatives from online motorcycle taxi (ojol) communities from 12 Regional Police Commands at the Padma Hotel in Semarang, Central Java, on Wednesday, 22 April 2026.

In the meeting, one representative from the ojol community in Medan, North Sumatra, Agam Zubir, expressed appreciation for the changing approach of traffic police, which is seen as increasingly humane and focused on public safety.

“We feel a significant change. Previously, the approach was more about enforcement, now it’s more humane and directly touches the community,” said Agam.

During the occasion, he revealed that ojol drivers directly experience the positive impacts from various traffic programmes, including during the homecoming and return flow periods, which have successfully reduced accident rates year by year.

“As ordinary citizens, we also feel the accident rate decreasing every year. This is extraordinary; we feel how your detailed programmes directly touch the community, especially us online motorcycle taxi drivers,” he stated.

According to him, the presence of coaching and education programmes from the police, particularly in North Sumatra, has helped increase traffic compliance awareness among ojol drivers.

In fact, ojol communities now play a role as “eyes and ears” in supporting road supervision.

“Previously, we knew police officers as those who touched us with traffic tickets; now, they touch us with heart. Especially since you conveyed this in the midst of ojol residents where we are,” he explained.

Nevertheless, he also highlighted several field challenges. One of them is the pressure from the app system that demands drivers to meet targets, thus prompting some drivers to take risks such as violating traffic rules.

“This is a dilemma. On one hand, we want to comply, but on the other, there are economic demands that must be met,” he clarified.

Additionally, passenger safety issues are a concern, including passengers who are reluctant to wear helmets. This condition is seen to require a joint approach between the police, app companies, and the community.