Traffic accidents on the rise

JAKARTA (JP): At least four traffic accidents were reported every day in the city, with one person dead, during the one-month Operation Zebra, which ends today.

"The number of accidents in the capital increased slightly during the operation to 135 from 110 reported during the month prior to the operation," National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. K. Ratta said yesterday.

On the other hand, the number of deaths shows a significant drop to 30 from 44 recorded during the previous corresponding period, he told reporters at the Coffee Morning meeting, held weekly by police headquarters to brief crime reporters about certain topics.

He said the declining number of victims reflected the increased public awareness in obeying the traffic rules and keeping their vehicles in good working order.

Compared with other provinces, Jakarta is billed as the province with the highest number of traffic accidents but ranks seventh on the list for the number of deaths.

Ratta expressed hope that Jakartans will continue to help shed the bad image of the city's traffic in the eyes foreigners, especially during and after the upcoming meeting of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum meeting next month.

Operation Zebra, which began on Sept. 26, throughout the country, involves personnel from the police, military and the City Traffic and Land Transportation Control Agency (DLLAJR) offices.

On the national scale, Ratta said the number of accident victims may reach 10,000 people this year.

During the first eight months of this year, police data shows 877 people died per month, or 29 per day, throughout the country.

"We expect all related institutions, including the ministry of information office, to continue to support and help our campaign on traffic discipline," Ratta said.

Even though the number of traffic accident deaths across the country has shown a significant decline during Operation Zebra, the number of violators ticketed during the current operation has almost doubled to 8,266 from 4,058 people ticketed every day during the previous one month.

During the operation police said the number of traffic accidents dropped 35.96 percent to 830 from 1,296 cases recorded in the previous corresponding period. The number of deaths declined 37.6 percent to 483 from 774 people and the number of injured victims dropped to 1,050 from 2,426 throughout the country. (bsr)