IDUL FITRI EXODUS IN 2015 SEES DROP IN TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS By Fardah

     Jakarta, July 25, 2015 (Antara) -- Latest data from the National Police Headquarters revealed that the number of traffic accidents that occurred across Indonesia during this year's Eid al-Fitr, locally known as Idul Fitri, exodus dropped marginally. 
    As many as 2,985 cases of traffic accidents took place, claiming 628 lives, seriously injuring 1,028 people and slightly injuring 3,808 others, according to the police's data.

         However, the number of traffic accidents declined 4 percent from that in the same period of 2014. In addition, casualties decreased 8 percent; the number of people who sustained serious injuries dropped by 0.1 percent; and the number of people who suffered minor injuries reduced by 3 percent.

         The data was collected by the police during the "Ketupat" Operation, which was launched on July 10, seven days before (D-7) Idul Fitri, and carried out till July 25, seven days after (D+7) the festival.

        "The number of casualties during the Ketupat Operation held till Day+7 of Idul Fitri reached 628," Brigadier General Agus Rianto, a spokesman for the Indonesian Police Headquarters, said in Jakarta on July 25.

        On D+7 alone, there were 97 cases of traffic accidents, wherein 16 were killed, 26 sustained serious injuries and 86 received minor ones.

        "The number of cases of traffic accidents dropped 52 percent, while the number of casualties decreased 64 percent as compared to that in the same period last year," he stated.

         However, these figures could change as it was predicted that the peak flow of inbound travelers, which are people returning after Eid Fitr, would occur on Sunday, July 26, a day before the long school holiday ends.

         Most Indonesian Muslims follow the tradition of celebrating Idul Fitri in their hometowns with their families. As a result, there is an exodus of travelers, particularly from cities to villages, during this time of the year.

         The Transportation Ministry had forecast that the number of homebound travelers would increase 1.9 percent to 20,002,724 from the 19,618,530 recorded in 2014
   To ensure people's safety during the exodus,  82,538 police personnel were deployed, 12,761 military personnel and 50,377 personnel from other institutions were fielded for the 16-day-long Ketupat Operation.

         In total, 145,676 personnel were deployed for the operation in 3,030 security posts and 1,083 public service posts that were established along the routes that would be taken by travelers during the exodus.

         Earlier, Chief of the Indonesian Police General Badrodin Haiti had reminded his personnel to provide their best services to the public during the implementation of the Ketupat Operation.

        "Take humane approaches; begin with a smile and a greeting; carry out security tasks and public services with sincerity and honesty," General Haiti remarked.

         The police focus on reducing traffic accidents. "I urge personnel from all police ranks and agencies involved in the operation to seriously implement the planned precautionary measures to reduce traffic accidents," he emphasized.

         Furthermore, over the last few years, the government has encouraged homebound travelers to not use motorcycles for their long journeys home. For this purpose, it has provided free rides by trucks, trains or ships to transport motorcyclists, their co-passengers and motorcycles to their destinations.  
    "In 2014, the total number of motorcyclists was 2.5 million," Deputy Chief of the Jakarta Police Brigadier General Nandang Jumantara said recently.

         As the capital city with a population of more than 10 million, Jakarta is affected the most by the exodus of people heading to their hometowns or coming home to the metropolitan city.

         The Jakarta Police recorded as many as 4,320,974 cars entering the capital via toll roads during the Ketupat Operation from July 10 to 24.

        "Four-wheelers came via toll roads, while the number of vehicles heading out (of Jakarta) was 2,779,872," Senior Commissioner Mohammad Iqbal, a spokesman for the Jakarta Police, said here on July 25.

         During the operation, the police fined 13,719 drivers and motorists for violating traffic regulations, whereas 8,202 others were reprimanded.

         Police personnel also held 5,008 driving licenses, 8,202 vehicle registration documents, 46 trucks, two cars, and 97 motorcycles for traffic violations.

          As many as 13,719 vehicles were charged for violating traffic rules, including 221 buses, 996 public transport microlets, 143 metrominis, 453 taxis, 646 freight cars, 1,547 private cars, and 9,713 motorcycles.

          Moreover, during the Idul Fitri exodus, the Jakarta Police recorded 82 cases of traffic accidents, in which six people died, 32 were seriously injured, and 75 others sustained minor injuries.

          Material losses inflicted by the traffic accidents amounted to Rp117,400 thousand. They involved 80 motorcycles, 28 private cars, four freight cars, five buses, and three bicycles.

          In addition, the city's police recorded some 18,055 buses departing with 235,853 passengers and 21,313 buses arriving with 277,819 passengers, in 11 bus terminals.

         The number of homebound travelers using trains was 375,128, while 251,086 passengers arrived at the six railway stations in Jakarta.

          Furthermore, 375,128 passengers left Jakarta by ships, while 251,086 arrived in the city.

         Ships carried 4,037 motorcycles with 24,343 passengers out of the capital and 2,358 motorcycles with 22,075 passengers to the city during the Ketupat period.

         The number of homebound travelers who chose to fly out of Jakarta was 375,784, while 224,711 arrived in the city by flights.

         Besides, during the Idul Fitri holidays, businesses and commercial centers in Jakarta were quite empty and convenient to browse.

         However, residential areas continued to witness severe traffic congestions, with Indonesian Muslims following the tradition of visiting their families during the Islamic festivity for get-togethers and to seek forgiveness.

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(F001/INE/B003)
25-07-2015 23:15:27