I am so frustrated at the traffic situation in Jakarta and I think I know why.
Back in the early days of motor vehicles, a man waving a large red flag would walk in front of the car warning people that a car was approaching.
Upon seeing this man, everyone in the car's path would step aside and give way.
As cars became faster and more advanced, it was no longer possible to have a man walking or even running at the front.
Instead, roads especially for cars were built, laws and regulations were issued and as the years progressed society and technology grew together, side by side. We can say that society and technology matured together.
Children at an early age were taught the importance and function of these laws as well as the philosophy behind it. The awareness of safety and the obedience towards the law grew within each and every child.
Now let's look at Indonesia. Here we have a young boy called Mukidi driving his ox-driven cart in the lonely roads of his native kampung. Reaching his teens, he tried his fortune and moved to the big city, working as a parking boy.
Going up the ladder, he became a bus conductor shouting at potential passengers while dangling outside the bus' door.
With hard work, he easily obtains a drivers license and now drives buses for a living.
Within a very short period of time Mukidi has catapulted from driving oxen to driving buses. What kind of awareness does Mukidi have? Stopping in the middle of the road to pick up and drop off passengers is fair game.
Waiting at the green light for passengers is not an issue. Running a red light? Why not? There's no policeman around.
Unfortunately, there are many "Mukidis" in this country that take in technology, ideas and concepts without really understanding the philosophy behind it. They care more for the form rather than the substance.
Here are some examples. I was driving behind a beautiful Japanese car the other day when suddenly something struck my attention. Upon making a left turn I didn't see a yellow or red blinking light, but instead I saw a pale purple light.
The owner of the car actually took the effort to change the legal color light bulb and replaced it with another color disregarding all legal and safety considerations.
The owner didn't seem to understand that yellow or red are the accepted colors for turning lights and such determined colors are to avoid confusion. From the owner's point of view legal and safety consideration aren't important. What is important is that his car is unique. Form over substance.
Another crazy example. I saw a madman who actually painted his front motorcycle lights from white into red to match the color of his motorcycle.
He has no idea the philosophy as to why rear lights are red and front lights are white! It's just a matter of time before someone crashes into him thinking he was behind the motorcycle and not actually racing towards it.
The risk is not important. What is important is that his motorcycle is unique! Form over substance.
Zebra crossings are another example. We took in that concept from abroad and painted our streets with zebra crossings.
You can stand on one end of a zebra crossing for hours before someone will stop his or her car to let you cross. Apparently most people don't understand the philosophy behind zebra crossing as a safe place for pedestrians to cross busy roads. Form over substance.
Before I end my frustration, I would like to return to the traffic situation in Jakarta. Jakarta's roads are clogged with millions of motor vehicles.
Chaotic would best describe the road condition. And do you know why? Because there are hardly any road markings!! If a main street such as Jl. Gatot Soebroto doesn't have road markings what chance would smaller roads have?
Could somebody please explain to the team of experts working at City Hall that road markings are not mere decorations! It is there for safety and legal reasons!
How can you be accused of being in the wrong lane when you don't have lanes in the first place! Don't just paint markings at busy main intersections as to show off to foreigners how sophisticated Jakarta's road system is, please also mark the rest of the road! Alas, form over substance.
Oh well, its time to go home and struggle the traffic jam but don't despair dear readers. I can zip through heavy traffic because of the police siren and bright blinking blue lights I have installed on the roof of my black civilian jeep!
The writer is a graduate of the Faculty of Law, University of Indonesia and currently working in the telecommunication sector.
