Traffic accidents on the rise

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)