Legislators Demand Answers Over Spike In Mudik Accidents

Legislators Demand Answers Over Spike In Mudik Accidents

Elisabeth Oktofani, Febriamy Hutapea & Camelia Pasandaran

Transportation Minister Freddy Numberi will be summoned for questioning by legislators over the huge increase in traffic accidents during this year’s mudik, an official said on Monday.

Marwan Jafar, a National Awakening Party (PKB) lawmaker and member of House of Representatives Commission V, which oversees transportation affairs, said the rise in accidents during the annual end-of-Ramadan exodus warranted an official explanation.

“We will soon conduct an evaluation meeting with the transportation minister,” he said.

He added that all state officials responsible for ensuring an incident-free mudik would also be evaluated, including those from the Ministry of Public Works, which he said failed to complete urgently needed road repairs where many of the accidents occurred.

The National Police recorded 4,006 accidents between Aug. 23 and Sept. 4. Idul Fitri, the holiday marking the end of Ramadan, fell on Aug. 31 this year.

The number of accidents was up by a third from last year’s figure of 3,010, but the number of fatalities was down — 661 compared to 746 last year, according to the police. Health Minister Endang Rahayu Sedyaningsih said on Monday that the number of fatalities was “around 700.”

Alvinsyah, a transportation expert from the University of Indonesia, said most of the accidents could be attributed to careless motorcycle and car driving.

“[Drivers] failed to exercise discipline while driving because they were too excited about going home to see their families,” he said.

Alvinsyah said that while reckless driving was the primary cause behind many of the accidents, other contributing factors included poor road conditions and mechanical problems with the vehicles.

“With the number of accidents over the Idul Fitri exodus increasing each year, the government needs to pay serious attention to the factors behind them and take serious long-term ac tion improve the mudik,” he said.

“It needs to improve the quality of road infrastructure and provide more traffic signs and proper rest areas along the main mudik routes.”

He also said many people choose to travel in private vehicles due to a shortage of public transportation.

“The public transportation options and capacity are very limited, while the number of travelers is high and many of them have a limited budget. Therefore, they seek the cheapest option,” he said.

The president’s office agreed with the need to thoroughly review this year’s mudik preparations, but it played down the problem of poor roads.

Julian Pasha, a presidential spokesman, said the rise in accidents may have reflected the higher number of people traveling this year.

He added that data on the number of mudik travelers was still being compiled. In August, the Ministry of Transportation predicted that the number of road and rail travelers would total about nine million this year, up from 8.6 million last year.

Outdoor Funtime for Families Staying in Jakarta

Outdoor Funtime for Families Staying in Jakarta

For the millions of people who had to remain in the capital during Idul Fitri festivities, recreational spots were the favorite destination on Friday.

The seaside Ancol park and South Jakarta’s Ragunan Zoo and theme park Taman Mini Indonesia Indah topped the list of affordable destinations, but pricier recreational venues, such as Kidzania, were equally packed.

Wibiono Santoso, a Pasar Baru resident, had been at Ragunan Zoo with his family since 9 a.m.

“This is the best time of the year to spend time with my family because I can take my children to see animals that they have never seen themselves,” he said, adding that the zoo was more fun, and cheaper to visit, than a restaurant or shopping mall.

Wibiono said he and his family had visited a number of recreation spots in Jakarta during this year’s holiday.

“One holiday destination that we have not visited is Setu Babakan, and we plan to continue on to there later this afternoon,” he said, referring to a traditional Betawi area in South Jakarta.

Rumiani, 32, said the zoo was a regular destination for her and her family during the extended holiday.

“For us, Ragunan Zoo is the best place to celebrate Idul Fitri as well as to have a family gathering. It is a cheap recreation place,” she said, although she added the venue tended to be packed during the celebration.

She said Taman Safari in Bogor was possibly a better alternative, but it was beyond her family’s price range.

Ragunan Zoo spokesperson Enny Pudjiwati said the venue had more than doubled its normal 22 ticket booths this year, and it had recruited 750 seasonal personnel to help the zoo’s 436 permanent employees deal with the holiday season.

She said the holidays could bring up to 750,000 visitors.

At Kidzania, long queues also developed at the ticket booth. Edi Sutedi, a shopkeeper from Pulo Gadung, was there with his two daughters.

“Taking my children to Kidzania is a very unusual activity for us to do during Eid, because we usually just go to Ragunan Zoo or Ancol beach,” Edi said.

He complained that the entrance fee was too expensive for his budget.

“But as I promised my girls to bring them here on Eid as they demanded, I am glad to be able to bring them here,” he said.

“This trip is a special gift for them.” Edi added.