Police advice for bus drivers

JAKARTA (JP): Alarmed by the number of road accidents, traffic police chief Col. Fachrudin B. has called on city bus drivers to stop driving recklessly.

Fachrudin held a meeting with 80 city bus drivers at the North Jakarta police precinct Thursday during which he stressed the need for road discipline.

"The death toll from road accidents in the greater Jakarta area is between two and three a day," he told the drivers.

He said that the main reason for the high number of fatalities was a reckless and foolhardy attitude among bus drivers, who do not respect traffic regulations, Antara reported.

The latest major accident involving city buses happened last Sunday in Sunter Jaya, North Jakarta. Two people were killed, one was seriously injured and two houses were badly damaged.

Angry residents set fire to two Metromini buses, including the bus involved in the accident, in retribution. (pan)