We are told today in a front page Jakarta Post article that "Lawlessness (is the) main cause of deadly road accidents in Indonesia.
News flash, right?
"Every year", reads the first paragraph, "at least one million new cars and at least 6 million new motorcycles hit the roads in Indonesia with the drivers having the freedom to break traffic regulations."
That's kind of like news to me. I did not know we were free to break traffic regulations. I thought the trouble was that there is no enforcement of traffic regulations. Small point, as I guess it amounts to the same thing.
The article explains that motorcyclists driving without helmets, driving in the wrong direction, and driving when they are not old enough to drive, as well as car drivers exceeding the speed limit and so on account for 105,000 traffic accidents a year--an average of 287 accidents per day--and 25,589 traffic related deaths, injuring a further 22,939.
These statistics inspired the government to launch a recent traffic law enforcement operation that lasted two weeks and was dubbed "Operation Zebra". The operation showed that "the more the law is enforced, the lower the number of traffic accidents."
Welcome to the 21st century! Who knew that the enforcement of traffic laws would decrease the number of traffic accidents? Luar biasa!
During the course of the two week trial period, it was found that far fewer traffic accidents, injuries and deaths occurred. So, if you were driving during that time, you were, statistically, safer than usual.
At all other times, one should probably, as far as possible, avoid driving at all.
News flash, right?
"Every year", reads the first paragraph, "at least one million new cars and at least 6 million new motorcycles hit the roads in Indonesia with the drivers having the freedom to break traffic regulations."
That's kind of like news to me. I did not know we were free to break traffic regulations. I thought the trouble was that there is no enforcement of traffic regulations. Small point, as I guess it amounts to the same thing.
The article explains that motorcyclists driving without helmets, driving in the wrong direction, and driving when they are not old enough to drive, as well as car drivers exceeding the speed limit and so on account for 105,000 traffic accidents a year--an average of 287 accidents per day--and 25,589 traffic related deaths, injuring a further 22,939.
These statistics inspired the government to launch a recent traffic law enforcement operation that lasted two weeks and was dubbed "Operation Zebra". The operation showed that "the more the law is enforced, the lower the number of traffic accidents."
Welcome to the 21st century! Who knew that the enforcement of traffic laws would decrease the number of traffic accidents? Luar biasa!
During the course of the two week trial period, it was found that far fewer traffic accidents, injuries and deaths occurred. So, if you were driving during that time, you were, statistically, safer than usual.
At all other times, one should probably, as far as possible, avoid driving at all.
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