Traffic '3-in-one' policy stays

JAKARTA (JP): The government's decision to allow civil servants to stay at home on Saturdays will not affect the 'three- in-one' policy or other traffic regulations, the police said yesterday.

"It's true that there is a policy ruling that Saturday is a holiday, but that does not necessarily mean that we have to change the traffic rules," head of the Traffic Directorate Col. Soeroso told Antara.

As of Oct.1 most government offices stopped doing business on Saturdays.

Soeroso added that the policy does not hold for those in private companies and educational institutions, from elementary schools to universities.

The 'three-in-one' policy, which was introduced in 1992, bars any private car with less than three passengers from entering certain roads from 6:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. every day except Sunday and national holidays. There are also many roads in the city which are closed for private vehicles at certain times, except on Sundays and national holidays.

Soeroso said that the traffic policy might be changed when the traffic is relaxed or if the government declares Saturday a national holiday.

"We will study the matter and coordinate this with the city Traffic and Highway Agency. Saturday is not a national holiday," he said.

Head of the City Traffic and Highway Agency J.P. Sepang said that after the government gave workers the day off on Saturday, many people violated normal traffic regulations, thinking that the rules had been changed. (sim)