'Police turn blind eye to violations'

'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.