Psychological State May Be a Reason Why Drivers Avoid Police on the Road

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The actions of a Toyota Calya driver who fled from a police check and drove in the wrong direction in the Gunung Sahari area, Central Jakarta, serve as an example of how panic can lead to dangerous actions on the road.

The phenomenon of drivers fleeing when about to be fined is not just a common traffic violation, but is also related to psychological factors.

The Founder of Jakarta Defensive Driving Consulting (JDDC), Jusri Pulubuhu, explained that the act of fleeing is often triggered by the mental pressure that arises when a person faces the police.

“Especially if the mistakes they have made are not just about documents. There may be other mistakes that are not related to traffic,” said Jusri to Kompas.com, Thursday (26/2/2026).

According to him, the pressure appears even before the driver is stopped by the police. This condition is called the anxiety phase, which arises because the violator is aware that they have made a mistake since the beginning of the journey.

In this condition, the subconscious becomes more dominant than rational logic. As a result, the driver loses composure and makes spontaneous decisions such as fleeing or driving in the wrong direction without considering the safety risks.

Jusri added that the level of pressure can increase to frustration if the driver feels they have a bigger problem than just a traffic violation.

When in a crowded public space and facing the police as a symbol of threat, impulsive reactions become even more likely.

Therefore, he emphasised the importance of mental readiness and administrative compliance while driving so that drivers are not in a state of stress while on the road.

Drivers who are calm and do not have the burden of violations, he said, tend to be able to cooperate when dealing with officers.

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