Traffic: New law needed

Traffic: New law needed

In the name of all Jakarta residents in this fiftieth year of
Indonesia's independence form the Netherlands, there is one piece
of colonial law which must be removed and revised--the traffic
laws. It is a law which daily forces most Jakarta residents to
the limits of their sanity, whether they are a driver-owner, a
owner-passenger or a passenger on public transport. It is a law
which endangers their lives and causes them to waste enormous
amounts of their precious working day.

This law is a straight unexpurgated lift from Dutch law (left-
hand drive) without any consideration for the fact all the cars
in Indonesia are right hand drive. This paradox derives from the
fact that the first cars in Southeast Asia were from United
Kingdom (right-hand drive).

As a result, Indonesian traffic law requires a driver to give
way to his blind side or his off side, i.e. the left hand side.
Yes, the side you cannot see clearly. Not many know that, even
the traffic police. It is fortunate for most of us this point of
law on the road is not pushed to the point where collision is
inevitable. Fortunately, our insurance companies are unaware of
this.

Perhaps in this special year it might be appropriate to set
Indonesia's traffic laws straight and at the same time include
some new regulations with regard to blocking intersections,
suitable parking distances from intersections, appropriate pick-
up points for public transport, etc.

Hopefully, the result would be smoother, speedier and safer
traffic in Jakarta. We all need it making a more efficient city
and thereby saving the government money and precious oil
reserves.

T.C. SCOTT

Jakarta