Police Chief: Peak Return Traffic Passed, Accidents Down 7.8 Percent

South Lampung (ANTARA) - National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo stated that the peak of the 2026 Eid al-Fitr return traffic has been passed, with a decrease in traffic accident incidents and fatalities during the outbound and return flows compared to 2025. “So, traffic accident incidents are currently down 7.8 percent compared to last year, while fatalities, namely deaths, have decreased by 112 from 377 to 265,” Listyo said at Bakauheni Port, South Lampung, on Saturday. He conveyed this after inspecting the return traffic conditions at Bakauheni Port alongside Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi to ensure optimal management of the return flow. The Police Chief assessed that this achievement is inseparable from the synergy of apparatus, transport operators, and public compliance during the Eid transportation period. “Rest areas and buffer zones have been prepared by the government. Utilise them well so that when conditions have recovered, please continue your journey safely,” he said. Based on the data presented, the volume of outbound traffic from Jakarta was previously recorded at 2,946,891 vehicles, up 20.49 percent from normal conditions and 1.82 percent from Eid 2025. Meanwhile, vehicles that had returned to Jakarta by Saturday reached 2,561,629 units, leaving about 385,262 vehicles or 13.07 percent. “This means that overall, we see that the peak return flow has been passed, and there is still 13.07 percent left to handle,” he said. In addition to vehicle traffic, the number of passengers on other modes of transport also increased, with trains carrying 3,407,676 passengers, up 7.84 percent, and air transport around 4.123 million passengers, up 6.27 percent. Sea transport recorded 4,751,186 passengers, up 13.89 percent, while land transport reached 3,131,582 passengers, up 13.3 percent compared to last year. The Police Chief said that the return flow situation at Bakauheni itself remains in the green category due to effective traffic engineering, delaying systems, buffer zones, and ticket checking arrangements. He added that traffic engineering schemes have been prepared to anticipate congestion, including when queues extend more than half a kilometre and begin to encroach on the main road. “Alhamdulillah, the current return flow can still be maintained in a green situation,” Listyo said. Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi stated that public compliance in following officers’ instructions during the journey is a key factor in reducing accident and fatality figures for the 2026 outbound-return flow. “Public cooperation in obeying officers’ directions and not forcing themselves is an important factor in suppressing accident and fatality numbers,” Dudy said. Furthermore, the government urges the public still undertaking return journeys to remain cautious, maintain physical condition, and comply with on-site officers’ directions to avoid potential congestion or road accidents.