Why drivers ignore traffic signs

Why drivers ignore traffic signs

By Multa Fidrus

JAKARTA (JP): When the traffic light turns right, he sometimes
does not stop; but he often stops at busy intersections or where
a no-stopping sign is displayed.

Herman, 29, a driver of a public minivan serving the Kampung
Melayu-Pasar Minggu route, acknowledged that he had violated
traffic regulations many times. He realizes that he has often
caused traffic congestion when stopping on a busy street to wait
for passengers, but he refused to take the blame.

"Passengers are usually reluctant to get into the van at the
right place since they are too lazy to walk," he told The Jakarta
Post while waiting for passengers at Cawang Bawah intersection,
East Jakarta. He did not move his vehicle, even when the light
turned green.

Herman blamed the passengers, saying they played the main role
in prompting public transportation drivers to violate traffic
regulations.

"They stop minivans at any place for practical reasons, while
we are looking for money and we don't want to lose them. That's
why we pick them up from wherever they wait," said the father of
three children.

He said not only him, but many other drivers did the same
thing when there was no police officer around.

He said he had been ticketed by the police several times for
breaking traffic rules.

However, he was not afraid, and said he did not even have to
go to the police station.

"There is a middleman specializing in dealing with the matter,
to the return of our driver's license when it is held by the
police," he said, adding that he just needed to tell him at which
police substation his driver's license was being held.

He pays Rp 10,000 for the service.

Slamet, 38, a driver of a Metromini bus plying the Pasar
Minggu-Cililitan route, said he had been repeatedly ticketed and
had no problem in getting his driver's license back. He displayed
no guilt, saying that all urban public transportation drivers
were the same. He and other drivers always stop and wait for
passengers at a narrow interchange after passing the railway
crossing near Kalibata Railway Station in South Jakarta, where a
no-stopping sign stands.

"We are waiting for passengers from the trains," he said,
adding that there were no police at the site.

Vehicles behind the buses are unable to move. Sometimes
motorists get stuck on the railway crossing -- a very dangerous
position to be in as a train can pass at any time.

Violations of traffic regulations happen in all parts of the
city. Mustofa, 44, a Metromini bus driver, always stops and waits
for passengers at the traffic light across from the East Jakarta
Police station on Jl. Matraman, while police officers turn a
blind eye to the situation.

Half of Jl. Matraman is occupied by street vendors, so there
is only one lane left for motorists heading toward Jatinegara
from Jl. Matraman. Since Metromini buses and minivans heading to
destinations in East Jakarta from the Kampung Melayu bus terminal
stop and wait for passengers there, heavy traffic congestion
happens daily.

Mustofa said the traffic light was the most strategic point to
wait for passengers boarding his bus. Another spot where
Metromini bus drivers frequently wait for passengers is the
traffic light at Prumpung intersection near the Jatinegara
Railway Station, he said.

Iswadi, 49, a driver of a bus serving the Kampung Melayu-
Grogol route in West Jakarta, seldom pulls over to the side of
the road to pick up or drop off passengers.

"It takes more time to stop on the roadside. Yet, I have never
been ticketed by the police for doing so," he told the Post while
driving the bus.

While there are obviously undisciplined passengers who stop
buses anywhere and a lack of bus stops in the city, Meizir, 41, a
commuter who always uses public transportation, complained about
drivers' attitude.

"They usually argue that they have to rush in order to get
money to cover the bus rental when they violate regulations, but
they intend to break the law anyway," said Meizir, who lives in
Rawabunga subdistrict, East Jakarta.

He also blames public transportation companies who never
upgrade their drivers' skills.

He suggested that the police cooperate with operators of
public transportation to regularly run courses for drivers in a
bid to improve their discipline and awareness of the rights of
other road users.

Meanwhile, a Mobile Brigade police officer assigned to help
direct traffic in front of the East Jakarta Police Headquarters
said last weekend that both public transportation drivers and
commuters were equally at fault.

"They both just want everything easy and practical without
considering the impact of their deeds," said the second
inspector, who asked not to be named.

He said that the behavior of drivers and commuters
"complimented" each other.

"If passengers waited for public vehicles at designated stops,
drivers would follow them.

"If drivers did not stop at inappropriate places, passengers
would move to the right place," he said.

"It is impossible for the police to watch drivers all the
time. Police control is no solution, but improving the drivers
and holding discipline campaigns for the community may help
improve their discipline and awareness," he said.

He said nothing about unscrupulous traffic police officers who
take bribes from undisciplined drivers, which also does not help
curb traffic violations.