'Police turn blind eye to violations'

Jakarta is notorious for its traffic jams, which occur in many parts of the city, especially during rush hour. The lack of comfortable public transportation and professional police officers have worsened the problem.

Andrew, 30, a manager working in a gallery on Jl. Gunung Sahari, lives in Cipinang, East Jakarta. He drives his own car:

The best time to drive in Jakarta is during Lebaran holidays (where many Jakartans leave the city for family reunions in their hometowns to celebrate Idul Fitri) because we can drive without having to worry about being trapped in traffic jams.

The traffic here is so bad because we don't have adequate safe and convenient public transportation. This forces many people to have their own car thus adding to the problem.

I usually drive my car everywhere I go. Even if I have to take the public transportation, I will only take a taxi or Patas AC (air-conditioned limited busses). I will not take the economy bus or the public minivan unless I really don't have any other choice.

Both taking public transportation and driving my own car has their own risks. I might get robbed in public buses but there are also petty criminals who target private cars.

Even police officers are no help. Instead of ensuring the smooth flow of traffic and enforcing the traffic regulations, they let drivers make mistakes and then impose heavy fines or ask for bribes.

Endah, 29, is an employee at the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) on Jl. Sudirman, Central Jakarta. She resides at the Raffles Hill housing complex in Cibubur, East Jakarta:

The city really needs a lot more busses to carry all the passengers. The current condition of existing buses is very poor.

Not only they are not roadworthy, but such overcrowded public transportation also opens the chances for pickpockets to rob their victims.

It was a different story back in 1996 when I first started to work in Jakarta. I did not find it dangerous to take a bus. But now I prefer to take the taxi instead.

Living in Cibubur leaves me no option but to take a taxi or go with my husband, who drives a car. Taking public transportation is not efficient as I have to change vehicles several times.

My husband and I have to spend one to one and a half hours reaching our offices because of the traffic jams. This is really depressing because we cannot predict the traffic jam.

Sometimes, we are caught in traffic jams although we have left earlier but sometimes the traffic flows smoothly. What makes it worse is that most of the times there is no any clear reason for the traffic jams.

A stopped car can cause congestion along the entire street.

Tata, 31, is a designer working for a firm in Melawai, South Jakarta. She lives close to nearby Jl. Radio Dalam:

I have my own driver to take me around so I don't really get tired with the traffic jam.

However, I hate being trapped in a traffic jam as it wastes my time. I have to leave much earlier to meet my clients. Luckily, I have never been late to any of my appointments.

I think the police should deploy more officers to handle any traffic congestion instead of waiting for drivers to make mistakes and give them a ticket.

Their presence will also help drivers to feel more secure while driving.

It's not only the police who have to improve their service but also the city administration.

There are so many streets in the city with uneven surfaces which is very dangerous. Even the toll road is not free from such problems.

Not only the surface. There are so many old trees in the city that need to be taken care of. They obstruct road signs while at the same time endanger passers-by during heavy rains and storms.

Wahyu, is a civilian guard at the Bungur subdistrict office in Central Jakarta. He lives near the office:

If the government constructs the Jakarta Outer Ring Road, that would be good. But, I wonder why the city administration does not finish the construction of the flyover on Jl. Bungur, Central Jakarta. If it takes that long to finish just that short flyover, how long will it take to build the longer toll roads?

Due to the unfinished flyover here, we are always been annoyed by the traffic. It drives me mad.

However, I agree with the government's proposal to resolve the transportation problem by developing more toll roads.