High Accident Rate, Bridgestone Indonesia Instill Road Safety Understanding In This Way

Bridgestone Road Safety School Program. (Photo: Bridgestone Indonesia)

JAKARTA - The increase in traffic accidents has been quite high lately, even specifically from the Bekasi Metro Police Traffic Unit data, it shows a fairly high number of 1,046 cases of accidents, an increase of 370 percent compared to 283 cases in 2022.

Meanwhile, national data from the Indonesian Ministry of Transportation noted that based on age, the highest number of traffic accidents involved the age of students and students, which was between 15-24 years. In 2023, there were 66,602 accidents involving students, or almost half of the total 155,000 accidents throughout the year.

In order to support the safety program in driving traffic, PT Bridgestone Tire Indonesia (Bridgestone Indonesia) held the Road Safety School Program (RSSP) 2024 at SMPN 2 Bekasi.

The program aims to increase awareness about the importance of good road users' behavior, as well as understanding the meaning of traffic signs, and other road safety support infrastructure from an early age.

"As a global company that is part of the world of transportation, it is important for us to take a leading role in advocate for safety on the highway and invite other stakeholders to jointly help create security and comfort for all road users, especially students in junior high and upper schools," said Human Resources and General Affairs Director Bridgestone Indonesia Yunus Triyonggo, in an official statement received on Monday, September 30.

As is known, Bridgestone Indonesia started a series of RSSP 2024 activities last June, starting with an online seminar (webinar) which was attended by elementary and junior high school teachers in Kotamadya Bekasi. Bridgestone Indonesia then conducted a study for schools participating in webinars to see the risk of road safety in the school environment.

From the results of the study, Bridgestone Indonesia together with all stakeholders agreed to start the 2024 RSSP project at SMPN 2 Bekasi, based on its location not far from the national road, SMPN 2 is one of the schools with the highest risk of accidents in Bekasi City.

"We are committed to consistently holding activities like this, especially for the younger generation, so that the highway becomes safer and more comfortable," he added.

On the same occasion, Deputy Student of SMPN 2 Bekasi Abdul Khoir, revealed that this activity was attended by workshop participants enthusiastically because it was conveyed with fun and there was a practice directly to see the condition of the road & traffic signs in front of the school.

"We hope that this program will also be carried out in other schools in Bekasi City," said Abdul.

The 2024 RSSP program will be continued with the final activity with all other stakeholders, namely increasing road infrastructure by installing road traffic signs & markings around SMPN 2 Bekasi according to the results of the study. The 2024 RSSP program contributes to the Bridgestone E8 Commitment, especially the Ease vector or convenience.