Police join forces with the Transport Department to crack down on wrong-way drivers
Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Traffic Unit of the East Jakarta Metropolitan Police (Satlantas Polres Metro Jakarta Timur) has teamed up with the Transportation Agency to intensify enforcement against motorists who drive against the flow in the area.
“We are also anticipating wrong-way driving, which is near the Jatinegara sub-district; we are cooperating with the local Dishub to issue warnings and take action so as not to drive against the flow,” said Police Commissioner Sunaryo, Deputy Head of the East Jakarta Metro Police Traffic Unit (Satlantas).
Speaking on Jalan DI Panjaitan, East Jakarta, on Wednesday, he explained that the move was a response to residents’ complaints and the high potential for accidents due to drivers who recklessly drive the wrong direction.
Sunaryo noted that the collaboration is focused on several high-risk points, one of which is along Jalan DI Panjaitan, Jatinegara.
Some of them are suspected to have escaped initial monitoring and still force their way against the traffic.
“There were still a few motorcycles that may have escaped monitoring earlier, but we will still take action using a handheld,” he said.
Satlantas personnel use electronic devices in the form of handheld units integrated with the Electronic Traffic Law Enforcement (ETLE) system.
With this system, the enforcement process becomes more transparent and accountable because it is based on digital evidence.
Vehicle data captured by cameras goes straight into the system, so offenders cannot evade administrative sanctions.
Sunaryo emphasised that driving the wrong way is one of the causes of road traffic accidents with a high fatality rate.
“That is usually because the accidents involving wrong-way driving tend to be quite fatal. As speeds from that direction and from the opposite direction collide,” he said.
“Going against the flow endangers yourself and others who are already in their proper lanes. The consequences are usually quite fatal due to collisions from two directions,” Sunaryo stressed.
In addition to enforcement, the joint officers also actively give on-site warnings to drivers to comply with traffic rules.
Education is conducted to raise public awareness that road safety is a shared responsibility.
The police ensure that supervision and enforcement will continue routinely at points of known violations.
Based on observations on Jalan DI Panjaitan, traffic along that route has been fairly congested since 07:00 WIB, especially during the morning and evening rush hours.
A line of two-wheeled and four-wheeled vehicles filled the road toward Jatinegara. Many large vehicles or trucks were also passing along this road.
Amid the congestion, several motorcycle riders were seen boldly taking the opposite lane.
They exploited gaps between vehicles to pass, even though traffic coming from the opposite direction continued to arrive.
The on-duty police officers continued to enforce against drivers who persisted in driving the wrong way. Offenders from afar were seen directed to return to the correct route.