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strong>Nov. 17, p9

According to the Transportation Agency, as many as 3,000 people have died in the past five years in Jakarta because of accidents involving motorcycles.

Due to the high number of fatalities, according to agency head Muhammad Akbar, the agency would prohibit motorcycles from crossing several main roads, including from the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle to Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat in Central Jakarta, as reported by beritajakarta.com.

Your comments:

Crossing other roads at one spot is nothing compared to the downright stupidity of motorbike riders in this country.

I'€™ve lost count of the number of drivers going against the traffic, using the bus lane, lane changing without any indication or worse and not observing before doing so.

Even existing junctions to turn left without looking right is amazingly stupid in this country, but done on a daily basis by the vast majority of motorbike riders.

Big fines and better enforcement of real road rules and not the '€œI need money for my lunch'€-type fines by the traffic police is the only way things will change.

Your comment on economics can be added to in that the enforcement and application of real fines would increase revenues for the government based on stupid drivers. It would have to be watched closely, though, to make sure it was not just a money-making scheme, but applied to real rule-breaking, such as going against traffic or driving in lanes not designated for bikes, etc. Cameras on police bikes and cars would provide evidence in some cases.

At the end of the day, it'€™s down to the Indonesians themselves to use due care and attention for themselves and other road users: something very few seem to be able to do.

LAF