KNKT Reveals Cause Of KM 58 Toll Accident: Grand Max Driver Working Time Out

Deadly accident on the Jakarta-Cikampek Toll Road that killed 12 people on April 8, 2024. (Between/Akbar Nugroho Gumay)

JAKARTA - The National Transportation Safety Committee (NTSC) revealed findings related to the cause of the deadly accident at the Cikampek Toll Road which killed 12 passengers.

In its report, the NTSC stated that the cause was the Grand Max driver, who was an unofficial travel vehicle, working beyond time.

KNKT chairman Soerjanto Tjahjono said, judging from the driver's working time, the driver's working time exceeds the predetermined working time so that it is estimated that the driver lacks rest time.

"If we drive in a state of lack of good rest, the driver will be less able to concentrate on driving the vehicle. In a situation like this the driver will find it very easy to experience micro sleep," he said in a statement to the media, Thursday, April 11.

Soerjanto then explained that from the results of the investigation, it was revealed that Friday, April 5, 2024, the unofficial travel vehicle departed after Isya or around 19:30 p.m. from Ciamis to Jakarta to pick up passengers.

Furthermore, on Saturday, April 6, 2024, unofficial travel vehicles will return from Jakarta during the day to take passengers to Ciamis as well as pick them up.

Sunday, April 7, 2024 departed in the morning from Ciamis to Jakarta to take passengers. after that, rest and in the afternoon go to Ciamis to take passengers. After that at night on the evening to Jakarta to pick them up and arrive in Jakarta at 00.00.

Monday, April 8, 2024 at 02.00 to pick up passengers to Depok, at 03.30 to pick them up to Cilebut and at around 05.30 to pick them up to Bekasi. Around 06.00 to go to Ciamis.

"In this vehicle, there are also 12 passengers, they should have a capacity of 9 passengers and not to mention their luggage. This of course also adds to the instability of vehicles," he explained.

Therefore, the Head of the NTSC appealed to motorists to rest well and adequately.

"And be honest with yourself when you are tired of rest before continuing your journey. As for the fatality of the victims, it is caused that the passengers in the passenger's car do not wear safety belts," concluded Soerjanto.