Safety on roads

Safety on roads

From Kompas

On Sept. 20, 1994, at about 7 p.m. my fiance stopped for a red traffic light at the Jl. Gunung Sahari and Jl. Garuda/Navy Headquarters intersection, on his way to pick me up from work.

A short and plump man wearing dirty shorts came and stood in front of the car, asking for money. In a queer voice, he said: Ceban, ceban (Chinese for Rp 10,000), or I'll break the windshield."

My fiance gave the man Rp 500 but he, with a stone in his hand, kept asking for Rp 10,000. The light changed to green but the man continued to block my fiance's path and took no notice of anything happening around him.

Readers, be on the alert if you are driving alone, particularly when you have to stop at traffic lights after dark. The man I on the road was not an insane person but a desperate and inhuman man.

The authorities should pay attention to this problem and make Jakarta a safe and orderly city for everybody, residents and visitors alike.

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