Police Target Motorists Who Smoke While Driving in Patuh Candi Operation
Kudus (ANTARA) – The Kudus Police in Central Java are also targeting motorists who smoke while driving as part of the 2026 Patuh Candi Operation, an effort to raise public awareness of road safety.
“ There have been many public complaints about motorists smoking while driving, so this has also become one of our concerns,” Kudus Police Chief AKBP Wahyu Sulistyo said on Monday, while leading the troop deployment ceremony for the 2026 Patuh Candi Operation at the Wicaksana Laghawa parade ground at Kudus Police headquarters.
He said smoking while driving could disrupt a driver’s concentration and endanger both the driver and other road users.
The public has therefore been urged not to engage in activities that could distract them while driving and to always prioritise road safety.
In addition to this behaviour, police are targeting several other visible traffic violations, including driving against the flow of traffic, not wearing a helmet, using vehicles that do not meet technical specifications, and carrying three people on a motorbike.
Alongside enforcement on the roads, the Kudus Police Traffic Unit is stepping up outreach at schools to instil traffic discipline from an early age, particularly among students who are beginning to use vehicles in their daily activities.
The 2026 Patuh Candi Operation will run for 14 days, from 26 October to 8 November 2026. Police aim to improve traffic discipline and reduce the number of accidents through the operation.
The Kudus Police chief also highlighted the high number of road accidents in his jurisdiction. A total of 1,127 accidents were recorded in 2025, while 906 had occurred by September 2026.
He said developments in transport in the digital era and amid modernisation must be matched by greater public awareness of traffic rules. Violations that are often considered minor can lead to accidents and endanger other road users.
“Ignored traffic violations can result in accidents. Therefore, enforcement is needed against violations that could potentially cause accidents,” he said.
He expressed hope that the 2026 Patuh Candi Operation would improve public discipline, reduce traffic violations and accidents, and strengthen road safety, security, order and traffic flow in Kudus Regency.
Meanwhile, Kudus Police Traffic Unit Chief AKP Aulia Dwi Maha Putri said the operation would emphasise three approaches: pre-emptive, preventive and repressive.
Under the direction of the National Police Traffic Corps chief, 50 per cent of the operation’s activities will be allocated to the pre-emptive approach, 30 per cent to prevention and 20 per cent to enforcement.
The pre-emptive approach involves education and outreach to build public awareness of the importance of traffic discipline. Preventive measures aim to minimise the risk of violations and road accidents.
The repressive approach involves taking action against traffic violations that could endanger road users.