ODOL Often Triggers Accident, Commission V DPR Asks Minister Of Transportation To Immediately Take Action

JAKARTA - Member of Commission V DPR RI Ahmad Fauzi, urged the Ministry of Transportation to take firm action against over-dimensional trucks overloading (ODOL). He assessed that the presence of ODOL trucks on the highway is increasingly troubling because it is often the main cause of various traffic accidents.

"This ODOL issue must be handled seriously. Accident after accident has become a strong alarm for the government to act immediately," said Fauzi, Saturday, May 10.

The PKB legislator from the Banten I electoral district also brought up the accident that killed a member of the DPR from the PKB faction, Alimuddin Dimyati Rois. Gus Alam died in treatment after an accident on the Pemalang-Batang toll road, Central Java, on Friday, May 2, early in the morning.

"Not long ago, Gus Alam, a member of the DPR from the PKB faction who had also sat on Commission V, became a victim. The car he was driving hit an ODOL truck without lights at night. Then, 11 teachers died because they were hit by an ODOL truck whose brakes failed. What do you want? Will a special ODOL lane be made, or what?," said Fauzi.

As reported, Alamuddin Dimyati Rois or Gus Alam had an accident on KM 315 of the Pemalang-Batang toll road in Petarukan, Pemalang Regency, early Friday morning.

The unfortunate incident began when the black Toyota Kijang Innova with the H 1980 CM plate drove from west to east. When they arrived at the scene at around 02.40 WIB, the car traveling in the right lane tried to overtake a vehicle in front of them.

However, when the car tried to overtake from the left, it turned out that in front of it there was a truck that was running slower. Because the distance was too close, Gus Alam's car could no longer stop its pace. As a result, the car hit the back of the Fuso truck with police number K 1344 K.

Two people died at the scene while two others were injured in the accident, including Gus Alam.

Furthermore, Fauzi questioned the Ministry of Transportation's commitment to supervising ODOL trucks. He also urged concrete action and immediately from the ministry so that casualties do not continue to fall.

Chairman of Commission V always emphasizes the importance of monitoring ODOL, but I haven't seen a clear concept from the Ministry. Will the ministry continue to let casualties fall? We ask for a thorough audit of all trucks, then report the results to Commission V. Immediately assign the Deputy Minister or Director General of Land Transportation. Do you want to be considered normal?, "he said.

According to Fauzi, a thorough audit is important to identify the main causes of traffic accidents and determine which vehicles are still roadworthy. In addition, he said, this audit is also needed to check the legality of the operation of goods transport companies.

"If an audit is carried out, it can be seen which trucks are suitable for operation and which are not. It can also be checked whether there are companies operating without official permission. A total evaluation must be carried out so that the ODOL problem is immediately resolved," he explained.

Fauzi emphasized that the government must immediately implement a zero ODOL policy, according to the target set out in the Presidential Regulation regarding strengthening national logistics. According to him, the implementation of zero ODOL will have a significant impact in reducing the number of traffic accidents.

Based on data from the Coordinating Ministry for Infrastructure and Regional Development, freight transportation contributes 10.5 percent of the total traffic accidents. According to Coordinating Minister Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, the lives of one person remain valuable and the state is obliged to ensure the safety of all citizens on the highway.

"Don't let public concerns continue to increase due to weak enforcement of ODOL. This is a serious problem that must be addressed immediately," concluded Fauzi.