13 People Died Due To Traffic Accident Backflow In West Sumatra

Head of the West Sumatra Police Public Relations Division, Police Commissioner Satake Bayu/Photo: Antara

PADANG - The West Sumatra Regional Police recorded that 13 people died as a result of traffic accidents on the return flow of Lebaran in this province during the Ketupat Singgalang Operation 2022.

The Head of Public Relations of the West Sumatra Police, Commissioner Satake Bayu, in Padang, Monday, May 9, said that the number of victims who died from April 28 to May 8, 2022, increased compared to last year, which was only eight people.

"The number of traffic accidents this year has increased from 66 incidents in 2021 to 101 incidents in 2022", he said as quoted by Antara.

Meanwhile, eight people were seriously injured and this number is the same as in 2021 as many as six people. Then for minor injuries this year as many as 189 people and an increase compared to 2021 which amounted to 95 people.

Material losses due to traffic accidents this year during that period amounted to IDR 386,750,000 and this number increased compared to 2021 in the same period of IDR 76,450,000. There was an increase in the number of losses due to accidents of IDR 310,300,000 in the same period compared to last year.

To prevent and anticipate traffic accidents for a week, the Traffic Directorate of the West Sumatra Police has reprimanded 4,306 motorists. This number increased from the previous year which was only 1,360 riders in the same period.

Furthermore, officers issued evidence of violations to 263 motorists and this number decreased compared to last year in the same period as many as 301 tickets.

He said warnings and tickets were given so that motorists were more careful and paid attention to the safety of themselves and the passengers they were transporting during the return flow of Eid Al-Fitr 1443 Hijri.

"We urge motorists to be orderly in traffic, be patient with existing conditions, and not commit violations. If a violation occurs, it will be followed by a traffic accident that can endanger the lives of drivers and other residents who are crossing the lane", he said.

According to him, there was a surge in vehicles entering West Sumatra during the Eid al-Fitr 1443 Hijri homecoming after the ban on going home in the last two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic and currently, there is a backflow of people from their hometowns to overseas areas.