Police deploy personnel to tackle wrong-way drivers during rush hour in Cakung
Jakarta — The Traffic Police Unit has stationed three officers each morning to address the widespread problem of wrong-way drivers on Jalan Raya Bekasi, specifically in East Cakung, East Jakarta, during peak hours.
“We have three officers in the morning. My personnel are distributed across various points to manage traffic and counter-flow drivers,” said Chief of Operations (KBO) of the East Jakarta Metro Police Traffic Unit, Senior Police Officer Eko Apriyanto, when confirmed in Jakarta on Monday.
This measure is being implemented to reduce the potential for accidents, which frequently occur during rush hour.
Eko noted that personnel placement is focused between 06:00 and 09:00 WIB. During this period, traffic flow from Bekasi towards Cakung is dominated by two-wheeled vehicles heading to work or school.
“Officers are in position from 06:00 WIB. The morning is indeed the busiest time, especially between 06:00 and 07:00 WIB. After 09:00 WIB, things typically ease up,” said Eko.
According to him, vehicle congestion during morning commute and school hours often prompts some riders to risk driving against traffic to speed up their journey.
The situation is exacerbated when drivers follow one another, causing violations to occur on a large scale.
“Police directs traffic from the Cakung direction, motorcyclists all follow along. Before long, it escalates, sometimes within half an hour. When we try to take action, coincidentally the traffic light goes out—only the yellow light works,” said Eko.
To anticipate this, officers are stationed at two intersection points identified as high-violation areas.
At these locations, officers manage traffic flow and direct drivers to stay within proper lanes according to regulations.
“We’ve tried to guide them into the correct lanes, but sometimes people do this en masse and follow each other. Even after being directed, they can revert,” said Eko.
He acknowledged that the number of officers stationed at the location is indeed limited because personnel must be distributed across numerous other high-risk points in East Jakarta.
Nevertheless, the unit ensures monitoring continues routinely each morning.
In their approach, the Traffic Unit prioritises persuasive methods through direct warnings to violators.
However, for ticketing purposes, the Electronic Traffic Law Enforcement (ETLE) system remains in effect for drivers captured by surveillance cameras.
Beyond personnel deployment, police also manage situations when traffic facilities malfunction, such as malfunctioning traffic lights. Such conditions are viewed as potentially exacerbating violations if not promptly addressed.
Furthermore, Eko appealed to the public to be more disciplined and not force themselves to drive against traffic simply to save time.
He also emphasised that road user safety must be the top priority, particularly amid the high volume of vehicles during morning rush hours.
“Safety is paramount. Don’t let rushing lead you to endanger yourself and others,” Eko stressed.
“Wrong-way driving is nothing new—it’s been going on for ages. Motorcyclists drive against traffic frequently. Yet it endangers other drivers who are correctly in their lanes,” said local resident Hambali (63) on Jalan Raya Bekasi in Cakung, East Jakarta, on Monday.
He noted that such traffic violations are not uncommon. According to him, almost daily, motorcyclists risk driving against traffic to shorten their commute time.
Additionally, accidents caused by wrong-way drivers occur regularly. The most frequent incidents involve collisions between motorcycles or riders being struck by other vehicles due to insufficient space.
However, Hambali said that good intentions to help accident victims often result in conflict.
He also acknowledged that at-fault drivers sometimes refuse to accept reprimands and instead behave aggressively.
“I often help when there’s an accident. It ends up in disputes. The ones driving wrong-way become even more hostile,” said Hambali.
Based on observations on Jalan Raya Bekasi, traffic flow on the route is quite dense, especially during morning and evening rush hours.
Rows of two-wheeled and four-wheeled vehicles pack the road section that serves as a connecting route from Bekasi and Pulogadung towards Priok. Even numerous large-capacity vehicles and trucks traverse the road.
Amid the congestion, several motorcyclists are seen risking driving against traffic.
They take advantage of gaps between vehicles to pass through, despite oncoming traffic.