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