Homecoming Is Coming Soon: Road Vigilance Is Very Important Because Every Eid, The Death Toll Reaches 400 People

A deadly traffic accident that claimed six lives, when a minibus hit a truck on the Pantura lane, Gebang, Cirebon Regency on Sunday afternoon, April 3, 2022. (Facebook @teraswarga)

JAKARTA – Another deadly traffic accident occurred on the north coast route (Pantura) Cirebon, West Java on Sunday afternoon, April 3, 2022. A minibus hit the back of a tronton truck that was stopping to patch tires.

This traffic accident resulted in the death of six people. The driver is thought to be sleepy. The victims are expected to return home. This fatal accident on the northern coast is not the first incident.

Previously, a traffic accident that claimed many lives also occurred on the Pantura route in the Pemalang area, Central Java, in the early hours of Friday, April 1. Two minibuses collided head-on, leaving five people dead.

The bumpy road conditions and driver's negligence are cited as triggers for frequent accidents that occur on the Pantura route. The Pantura Path is often referred to as the “skull route”. This condition should be a warning to motorists and the government.

The Pantura Line has been part of Jalan Raya Pos since the 18th century to facilitate the flow of goods and services.

A minibus that had a traffic accident on the Pantura Pemalang route on Friday morning 1 April 2022, which claimed five lives. (Special)

The Pantura line can be said to be the path of death because the road conditions tend to be straight and wide, allowing motorists to accelerate to more than 60 km/hour. In addition, minimal traffic signs and lack of street lighting are also contributing factors.

The Pantura Line is no longer an idol since the Trans-Java Toll Road was connected in recent years. Generally only trucks and motorbikes always pass on this road, the roads are not as hard as they used to be. However, the average vehicle speed reaches 60-70 km per hour.

Losing concentration in driving on the northern coast can be fatal. Moreover, this road is dominated by trucks that do not use under shields, and often stop on the shoulder of the road.

During 2021 the Pantura Gebang route in Cirebon, according to data from the jurisdiction of the Cirebon Police, is an accident-prone area with 421 accidents with 229 deaths. Meanwhile, in the previous year, 270 people died.

This note shows the need for high vigilance for motorists, especially since the homecoming flow will soon arrive. Travelers should make sure their vehicle is in top condition.

Lack of socialization

Processed from dephub.go.id, that in fact the Directorate General of Land Transportation of the Ministry of Transportation since 2020 has provided a circular regarding truck owners installing undercarriage shields. Because like in the northern coast lane, rear-end collisions between cars and trucks often occur.

However, in the field it has not run optimally, because there are still many trucks that have not used the under shield. The truck that was hit by a minibus in last Sunday's deadly crash is an example. The death toll also fell.

The cost savings have led some truck drivers to choose the Pantura route, although Cipali can cut the route up to 40 km from Jakarta to Cirebon. As an illustration, the tariff for class III vehicles or trucks passing from the Cikopo Toll Gate, Purwakarta to Palimanan in Cirebon is Rp. 196,000.

Transportation observer Djoko Setijowarno said that drivers who drive for four consecutive hours must rest for at least half an hour. This is in accordance with Law No. 22 of 2009 concerning Road Traffic and Transportation. In fact, he said, drivers should take a break every two hours.

Police dispel motorcycle cyclists who go against the flow at the Kedungwaringin blocking post, Bekasi Regency during the Lebaran homecoming flow on May 9, 2021. (ANTARA/Fakhri Hermansyah)

“This drowsiness accident must be evaluated continuously. For long trips, for example, there must be two drivers. The government can make a campaign to prevent sleepiness. Without the cooperation of various parties, the "skull" path of the northern coast will claim more lives," said Djoko.

This year's Lebaran, the Pantura route and the Trans-Java toll road are likely to be full of vehicles again. The government has allowed people to go home for Eid after two years of being banned due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Even though they are burdened with the condition that they have to have booster vaccines, the enthusiasm of the community for going home is predicted to be high.

The National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT) said, based on reports from the Indonesian National Police, driver fatigue was the highest cause of accidents during the Lebaran homecoming flow. The number of accidents during Lebaran is always high, with the death toll always above 400 people.

Personal Factor

Fatigue or in medical terms called fatigue, is a state of decline that can include mental and physical aspects, related to alertness. If someone wakes up at 05.00 for example, then at 22.00 will definitely start to experience fatigue.‎

Body performance will go down as we drink a glass of beer. After 18 hours of no sleep, your body's performance will drop to the equivalent of drinking two beers. If a person who doesn't sleep for 18 hours is still driving a motorbike or car, it's like a drunk person being allowed to become a driver which can be very dangerous.

From the side of vehicle users, the causes include lack of discipline from the drivers, carrying excessive loads, and not complying with traffic regulations. The feasibility of the vehicle can also cause accidents such as the condition of tires, brakes, navigation, and other systems that are not good.

Poor road conditions also trigger accidents. Potholes, no traffic signs, and many high inclines can cause drivers who are not good at controlling vehicles to get into accidents.

Then how can we go home safely? For travelers on motorbikes, it is better to follow the homecoming program from the Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub), as the coordinator of Lebaran transportation organizers

The Ministry of Transportation for the past few years has provided alternative transportation, namely buses and trains for people who plan to go home by motorbike. The goal is to reduce the number of traffic accidents on the highway, and control the number of vehicles. Make sure that the traveling conditions are comfortable. Pray before starting the journey.