Traffic in Jakarta

After some years of living in Jakarta I have come up with the following thoughts and comments. Firstly, why do drivers become different people once behind the wheel? I think it is because they live in an authoritarian world. You start off from the house and a spouse and family who probably spent the previous night and that morning giving you a hard time. Then you get to work to find a boss about to do the same thing.

The evening brings about the opportunity for the whole process to start once more. So your only chance to escape and take control of your own little kingdom, with no one to boss you about, is when you sit behind the wheel of your car. Here you are in charge with the ability to control your own destiny. It is here where you can decide whether you give way or charge ahead regardless of the others around you. But being considerate and giving way to your fellow motorists is akin to accepting orders from someone else. So, being in charge, you decline and become a road rat. You see, the problem with giving way to one motorist is that the ten cars behind him accept your kind offer too, irrespective of whether you intended to let in the whole side street or not. Consequently, you become reluctant to give way.

I believe that the authorities have and continue to make big improvements to the roads of Jakarta. The emergence of toll roads, widening and resurfacing of roads, new traffic lights etc. However, the biggest problem is caused by the drivers themselves. Selfish, careless and inconsiderate driving habits will continue to thwart the efforts of the city planners and police. The police also need to look at setting up a special division whose job is solely controlling traffic at major intersections and bottlenecks. These officers should then man their intersections rain or shine every day during the main transit times.

The authorities need to spend large sums of time and money or re-educating the masses using multi-media at every level. Everyone thinks that the way things are is the norm, and that it will take an effort by someone else to change the situation. But let's be quite clear, the change is with us, each and every one of us. But the authorities must show us the way and be resolute about maintaining it. Some simple suggestions to start with. Re- introduce and improve the anti-grade lock controls at major intersections, using yellow paint of better quality, and place clear signs at the entrance to such intersections. Traffic round- abouts currently operate on the old Dutch system where traffic entering the round-about has right of way. But even the Dutch are now changing to the British way where traffic already on the round-about has right of way. One last thing, if someone does give way to you, please show your hand as a way of saying "Thank You," -- it's the least you can do.

LEWIS TURNER

Bogor, West Java