The Ministry of Transportation Supports the Use of ABS for Motorcycles to Reduce the Risk of Accidents

Illustration. (Photo: Dok. Antara)

JAKARTA - The Directorate General of Land Transportation of the Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub) supports the use of Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) on motorcycles to increase safety and reduce the risk of accidents on the road.

Director of Road Transport Safety and Facilities of the Directorate General of Land Transportation, Ministry of Transportation, Yusuf Nugroho, said that the development of vehicle safety technology is increasingly rapid, allowing the implementation of advanced features in Indonesia, such as ABS brakes.

"Many safety features can now be implemented in Indonesia, ranging from ABS brakes to stability control systems that automatically help vehicles maneuver more safely," said Yusuf in a statement in Jakarta, quoted by Antara, Saturday, January 17.

According to him, ABS and stability control can help drivers maneuver more safely in various conditions on national highways.

He also emphasized that the integration of automatic safety technology improves the stability, braking control, and protection of road users on motor vehicles.

Anti-lock Braking System is an advanced braking technology designed to prevent the wheels from locking during sudden braking.

The system helps drivers maintain vehicle control, improve stability, and reduce braking distance in various road conditions.

A study by the Faculty of Engineering, University of Indonesia, shows that the use of ABS can reduce motorcycle accidents by 24 percent.

With the target of reducing fatalities by 50 percent by 2030, ABS is one of the important technological solutions for road safety.

Data from the Indonesian Motorcycle Industry Association (AISI) shows that motorcycle sales in November 2025 grew 2.1 percent to 523,591 units.

However, vehicle safety systems and standards are not balanced with this surge, so that the strategy of educating drivers alone is not enough to hold back the fatality rate.

Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Road Safety Association (RSA) Indonesia Rio Octaviano emphasized that road safety issues have not yet been fully placed as an integrated cross-sector agenda in policy.

According to Rio, existing efforts often run partially, between improving road user behavior and strengthening vehicle standards, without a balanced and mutually reinforcing framework.

"In India, there are many non-governmental organizations that consistently focus on road safety issues. The aspirations that they express are really heard, accommodated, and followed up seriously by the government," said Rio.

He emphasized that collaboration was an important force in correcting the high number of traffic accidents, until finally giving birth to concrete policies.

Meanwhile, data from the National Police's Korlantas recorded that around 44 percent of motorcycle accidents throughout 2024 were triggered by a failure of the braking function.

TRAX (Traffic Accident Research & Prevention Society) founder, NGO Road Safety India Rajni Gandhi explained the importance of planning for the implementation of ABS on all motorcycles.

"So that the system can help drivers control the vehicle better and increase stability and braking distance in various conditions," said Rajni.

In Indonesia, the application of braking technology is still limited to large-capacity motorcycles, although the majority of riders use motorcycles under 150 cc.

India is an example of the successful implementation of ABS on a large scale. The Indian government through the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) will require ABS on all new motorcycles and scooters starting January 2026, regardless of engine capacity.

The Special Envoy of the Secretary-General of the United Nations for Road Safety Jean Todt said they recorded 80 percent of fatal accidents in Indonesia involving two wheels, with 2/3 of the victims who died did not have a license.

"The combination of driver education and technology-based safety standards is the key to reducing the risk of fatalities on the road," said Jean.