Recklessness, abysmal roads blamed for biker fatalities

Andra Wisnu ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Thu, 06/25/2009 11:25 AM  |  City

Despite a recent survey saying the majority of road accidents involve motorcycles, motorcyclists insist that theirs is the most reliable means of transport in the city.

In a series of interviews by The Jakarta Post in observance of National Road Safety Week, riders unanimously blamed other riders for these accidents, though many pointed out the city's lack of control on the number of motorbikes and abysmal road conditions.

"Riders who've had accidents must have been careless, because I've been riding my motorbike everywhere for the past 20 years, and I've never been in any accidents," said Jamil, 52, a glass cutter turned ojek (motorcycle taxi) driver.

Jamil insisted motorbikes were safe, despite being told about the survey that concluded motorbike riders were more at risk than other commuter to the inherent danger of traffic accidents.

The survey released by the WHO showed 61 percent of drivers of two- and three-wheeled vehicles died in road accidents in Indonesia last year, compared to only 3 percent of drivers of four-wheeled vehicles.

Pedestrians were also quite vulnerable, with 15 percent dying in road accidents, as well as 13 percent of bicyclists and 4 percent of passengers of four-wheeled vehicles.

The report blamed the government for not "giving sufficient attention to the needs of pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists" for the high numbers.

Jamil agreed the city's roads were poorly maintained, but insisted accidents would not occur if riders were more careful.

"Everybody knows the administration can't keep the roads maintained, but you can't blame the roads for making you fall," he said.

"What you have to do is remember where the potholes are and you'll be safe."

Edi, 50, another ojek driver, agreed.

"Motorbike riders know it's more dangerous to travel by motorbike than by car, so if riders are not always aware of holes in the roads that can kill them, then it's their own fault," he said.

Panjo Wijaya, a helmet vendor on Jl. Satrio, South Jakarta, also blamed motorcyclists for the statistics.

"It all comes back to the person riding the motorbike," he said.

"If they're going too fast, that's their fault, If they're not wearing a helmet, their fault too."

Panjo added motorcycles were one of the most effective means of commuting in the city, where the massive increase in vehicles and glacial rate of road construction has made gridlock a daily occurrence.

"The number of accidents involving motorbikes would likely decrease if there were fewer traffic jams, because fewer people would use motorbikes," he said.

Data from the city administration shows Jakarta's roads grow by 0.01 percent a year - far slower than the rise in vehicle numbers, estimated in the dozens of percentage points.

The Jakarta Police's head of traffic accidents division, Comr. Herman Ruswandi, said the police were promoting safe riding among motorcyclists, adding that riders "tend to ignore the police's warnings".

"Their excuses usually have to do with having to be somewhere else soon. But the statistics show they are in immediate danger if they don't drive carefully," he said.

He dodged the question of whether road conditions were adequate for motorcyclists, saying only it was "the city administration's to answer", while admitting that lunar crater-like roads contributed to the high rate of fatalities.

"It rises every day," he said.

"The number's not too high, but if you average it all up, it's like two or three more riders die each day in road accidents."

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