'There should be no traffic jams on the expressways'

The government is planning to increase expressway tolls by at least 15 percent in order to reduce the number of cars using them and raise money for maintenance. The Jakarta Post asked some Jakartans for their opinions on the plan.

Kristanti, 42, works for a manufacturing firm on Jl. Jend. Sudirman. She lives in Central Jakarta.

I disagree with the plan to increase expressway tolls. Everything is so expensive nowadays. The prices of gasoline and compressed natural gas have already gone up. Why should people be further burdened through an increase in tolls?

The cost of living is getting higher and higher every day. The price of one thing goes up and everything else follows. And that's not to mention taxes.

As far as I'm concerned, expressway operators should get more staff patrolling to help motorists. For example, when traffic jams occur, many drivers don't know what to do or even what the cause of the jam is. All they know is they are stuck in the middle of the road.

I know that driving etiquette is very poor in Indonesia. Therefore, instructions and guidance from expressway staff are badly needed.

Leonard, 28, is an advertising executive with a publishing company in Jakarta. He lives in Bekasi, West Jakarta.

I only take the expressway after work, at around 6 p.m. every day. I notice that during peak hours, the police are trying hard to regulate the traffic. The good thing is that they have started pulling over cars that pass on the inside shoulder.

In addition, the officers stand guard at the toll gates to make sure drivers line up. All drivers have to stay in line until they get to the gate. This helps make drivers more disciplined and drive in a civilized manner, rather than going crazy trying to get past each other.

As for an increase in tolls, I wouldn't mind as long as the expressway operators can guarantee that there will be no more traffic jams.

I really wish there was less traffic on the expressways and that every motorist would drive in a civilized manner when using them.

The Jakarta Post