Solving traffic problem

Solving traffic problem

I entirely agree with John Kerr (Driving in the rain, The Jakarta Post, Nov. 4, 1994). There has, indeed, been a plethora of words written about Jakarta's famous -- or should I say, infamous -- macet (traffic jams). I must admit to having written quite a few myself by way of contributions to "Your Letters" column. The only discernible move towards easing the problem has been the totally feeble and ineffective "three-in-one" rule, which is daily flouted by hundreds of drivers who simply pick up one or two urchins to make up the numbers.

Otherwise, more and more ugly skyscrapers, potent generators of more traffic, are being built, and various toll roads are being constructed, some of which will simply pour more vehicles from outlying districts onto the roads of Central Jakarta's already impossibly overloaded roads.

A couple of years ago, there was a sensible suggestion to do as has been done with very good effect in London (and no doubt in other major cities in UK and elsewhere) i.e. to paint criss-cross yellow lines at major intersections to form a square into which no vehicle may enter, unless the driver can see a clear way out on the other side. I have not come across any such criss-crossing here myself, and wonder if the idea was ever followed up.

In fact, it would never work here unless there were at least two policemen supervising each intersection, for I have noticed in the years I have lived here that the average Indonesian driver is not greatly addicted to the courtesies of the road; if he can block another driver from going on his lawful way, he will take a ghoulish delight in doing so! Violation of traffic regulations is a favorite pastime, so it seems. Nevertheless, it would be worth trying out the yellow criss-crossing lines, under the ever watchful eyes of the police.

RB SAWREY-COOKSON

Jakarta