Transportation Observer: The Main Cause Of Accidents On Toll Roads Dominated By Driver Negligence

Illustration (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Academics of the Unika Soegijapranata Civil Engineering Study Program as well as Deputy Chair of the Indonesian Transportation Community Regional Empowerment and Strengthening Division (MTI) Djoko Setijowarno assessed that the cause of the accident on toll roads was still dominated by the negligence of the driver.

"The characteristics of the accident on the toll road are, for example, the driver is sleepy, lacks concentration, tired, vehicle or over speed, hit the back of the truck because it is slow as a result of overloaded vehicles and overloaded tires," said Djoko in a written statement received by VOI, Monday, March 27.

According to him, in the past year, at least two figures in Indonesia died on the toll road because they hit the back of a truck.

"The traffic accident that happened to former Deputy Minister of Public Works Hermanto Dardak is a reminder of how important it is to ensure that the driver is in top condition. Then, badminton player Syabda Perkasa Belawa died in a traffic accident on the Pemalang-Batang Toll Road, Central Java," said Djoko.

Djoko explained, based on data compiled by the Indonesian National Police (RI), the main factor causing traffic accidents is the driver.

"From these conditions, the mechanism for obtaining a driving license (SIM) should be fixed. The main thing is to require the applicant to first graduate from the driving school," he said.

According to Djoko, driving schools can be really credible in teaching safe driving procedures, be polite (not arrogant), obey the rules, and so on.

"If the driver's license mechanism through driving school has taught and instilled a good driving behavior, later the driver can understand his abilities, including if he is tired and sleepy, he must immediately rest and not force himself to keep driving," he explained.

Based on data and facts compiled by Djoko, the fatality rate due to traffic accidents in Indonesia averages 27 thousand people per year or the equivalent of 3-4 people die per hour.

"The fatality number of traffic accidents in 2017 was 30,894 people, in 2018 29,083 people, in 2019 it reached 25,871 people, in 2020 (23,529 people) and in 2021 (25,288 people)," he concluded.