Uncovering the Roots of Accidents: Indonesia Learns from the Vision Zero Approach

For years, traffic accidents in Indonesia have frequently been viewed as the result of individual negligence. When collisions occur, public attention typically focuses on drowsy drivers, speeding, or traffic violations. However, in several developed nations, accident evaluations are also conducted by examining the transport system as a whole. This approach places safety as a shared responsibility, involving not only road users but also regulators, road designers, and vehicle manufacturers.

Djoko Setijowarno, a transport academic and observer at the Indonesian Transport Society, believes Indonesia needs to begin expanding its perspective on road accidents. According to him, accident evaluations so far have focused heavily on driver error, while other factors also influence accident fatality rates. “In developed countries, accidents are not viewed as bad luck or purely human error. The road system, vehicles, regulations, and even supervision are considered to share responsibility,” he told Kompas.com on Sunday (17/5/2026).

The Vision Zero concept was first adopted by the Swedish parliament in 1997. Its primary principle is to reduce traffic fatalities as much as possible through improvements in road safety systems. Under this approach, transport systems are designed considering the possibility of human error. Consequently, infrastructure and vehicle technology are engineered to reduce the risk of fatal accidents when errors occur.

Sweden implements various road designs known as ‘forgiving roads’, which are designed to minimise the impact of accidents. These include physical median barriers to prevent head-on collisions, road narrowing in residential areas to slow vehicles down, and speed limits in pedestrian zones. Various road safety reports show that traffic fatalities in Sweden are among the lowest in the world, at fewer than three deaths per 100,000 inhabitants.