National Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Martinus Sitompul told a press conference on Friday that the decision was made to make sure that the sound of the horns complied with the legal noise threshold of between 93 and 118 decibels.

“We can impose the law on traffic on drivers with horns producing more than the highest level of noise allowed in public spaces,” Martinus said.

Law No. 22/1999 on traffic and public transportation stipulates that violations of the noise threshold are subject of two-month imprisonment or an Rp 500,000 (US$37) fine, he added.

(Read also: ‘Om Telolet Om’ unsafe to do on public roads: Transportation Ministry)

Martinus cited the police’s decision to enforce the law in response to the “Om Telolet Om” phenomenon, as part of efforts to educate drivers and residents shouting for the horns on roads.

“We understand the phenomenon is enjoyable for them but we must be responsible for their safety and others who use the roads. Reckless actions on roads will put them as well as others in danger”.

The phrase “Om Telolet Om’, a popular Indonesian phrase used by the younger generation has become popular recently. In Indonesian, Om means “uncle” or “older man”, which refers to the bus drivers, while “telolet” means to honk the horn of a vehicle. If combined, it literally means “Driver, honk, driver”.

It became a global phenomenon after a video showing children and youngsters standing on the streets of Ngabul, a subdistrict in Jepara regency, Central Java, waving and shouting “Om Telolet Om” at passing busses went viral. (hwa)

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