Traffic Violations Passed from Parents to Children: The Facts

JAKARTA - Low road safety awareness in Indonesia apparently roots from the closest environment, namely the family. Founder of Jakarta Defensive Driving Consulting (JDDC), Jusri Pulubuhu, states that many reckless behaviours on the roads are inadvertently “taught” by parents to their children. According to Jusri, the environment plays a significant role in shaping drivers’ mindsets. He gives an example of how a child can grow up considering violations as normal because they see their father doing the same. Normalisation of Daily Violations This bad behaviour does not only occur at railway crossings but also encompasses various other daily violations. For instance, not habituating children to wear helmets when riding pillion, or not using seatbelts. Worse, many people ride against traffic while carrying their children. Unconsciously, the child then normalises traffic violations. Jusri states that the responsibility for safety lies in the hands of every individual, especially the head of the family. A father has the obligation to provide measured safety education for his child and wife. “Safety should be his need, a lifestyle like that. This is what’s missing,” said Jusri. He also compares how Indonesian citizens can be very disciplined when abroad, such as in Singapore, due to strict law enforcement without exceptions. However, upon returning to the homeland, zigzag and rule-breaking behaviours re-emerge because law enforcement is still reactive. As long as parents continue to set bad examples and law enforcement is not consistent, Jusri believes the culture of breaking rules will continue to be passed on to the next generation.