What is Contraflow? Understanding the Traffic Management System Frequently Applied During Eid Exodus

Jakarta – Every Eid exodus season, traffic volume on major toll road sections typically increases sharply. To ease this congestion, the government and police frequently implement traffic management schemes.

One of the most commonly used schemes is contraflow. This traffic arrangement is typically applied on toll roads when vehicle traffic in one direction is significantly heavier than in the opposite direction.

Through this method, the lane capacity in the congested direction becomes larger, allowing vehicle flow to move more smoothly and reducing long queues.

Contraflow is a traffic management system implemented by utilising part of the lanes from the opposite direction for vehicles from the more congested direction.

This system differs from one-way traffic. Whilst contraflow only utilises part of the lanes from the opposite direction, in a one-way system the entire road is converted to a single direction.

Like one-way systems, contraflow is applied to increase road capacity and help reduce congestion during periods of increased vehicle traffic, such as the Eid exodus period.

Despite aiming to improve traffic flow, contraflow use still carries risks for road users.

Jusri stated that contraflow is a relatively high-risk traffic management system because vehicles travel in close proximity to traffic flowing from the opposite direction.

“Road signs are also not visible, rest areas are on the right. And people in the opposite lane are also in a fatigued psychological state,” Jusri told Kompas.com on Sunday, 8 March 2026.

This is because on the left side of vehicles there is typically a road barrier, whilst on the right side there are vehicles travelling from the opposite direction.

For this reason, drivers are advised to maintain vehicle speed, focus on road conditions, and maintain a safe distance when travelling on contraflow lanes.