Police must follow procedures for traveling VVIPs

The Jakarta Post Jakarta

Police can move vehicles to the left side of the road to allow the president, or vice president, and their convoys pass by, according to the standard procedures applied during movements of important personages.

The procedures also apply on toll roads, Jakarta Police Traffic Division chief Sr. Comr. Joko Susilo said on Wednesday.

"In a normal situation, the way is cleared between 10 minutes and 15 minutes before the important personage and his entourage pass along the road. However, the amount of time really depends on whether the traffic is heavy or not. The busier the road is, the earlier the work begins, especially if there is traffic congestion," he said.

Joko said the police would first sound their sirens to notify motorists to move over to the left side of the road.

According to Article 65 of Presidential Decree No. 43/1993, road users must give priority to various types of vehicles on the highway.

First priority goes to fire trucks, ambulances, vehicles dispatched to assist the victims of traffic accidents, and vehicles or convoys carrying the head of the state or visiting foreign state guests.

Joko said the procedures also applied to toll roads, although by definition these are supposedly free of congestion.

"Law No. 13/1980 on toll roads says they are public roads, similar to other classifications of road," he said.

He said police officers would not abruptly stop motorists in the event of a VIP passing along the road.

"The cars must be moved over to the left of the road while the VIP is still three kilometers behind. If police officers were to abruptly stop the traffic, their cars would be damaged too," he said.

An officer with the presidential guard detail said all movements of important personages were well planned in advance, and never took place suddenly or unexpectedly.

According to the presidential detail's standard procedures, to police should have between 15 minutes and 30 minutes at the least to stop traffic.

"There is no such thing as a sudden movement. The road should be cleared 15 minutes at the latest before the personage passes," the officer told The Jakarta Post.

However, during the press conference following the fatal accident that took place before President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono traveled on the Jagorawi toll road on Wednesday, presidential spokesman Andi Mallarangeng said the crash and the arrival of the president were just 10 minutes apart.